UVU: Discovering the Sican with Izumi Shimada

zumi Shimada, an internationally renowned archaeologist and distinguished professor of anthropology at Southern Illinois University, will discuss "Discovering the Sicán: Exploring a Millennium-Old Civilization of Peru Through Archaeology and Science" on Feb. 25 at noon in the Ragan Theater of the Sorensen Student Center.

Shimada initially discovered the powerful and highly technological Sicán civilization and its wonders in the late 1970s in northern Peru. Over more than 30 years, Shimada accomplished a feat rarely achieved in archaeology: a true scientific reconstruction of a lost people, piecing together details from the Sicán's immense pyramid tombs, their ecology, economy, social structure, and details of daily life. He uncovered the rich fabric of the civilization and culture through its gold artifacts, artwork, engineering feats, human skeletons, and even ancient DNA.

The work of Shimada, and his UVU protégé and colleague, Haagen Klaus, an assistant professor of anthropology, was recently chronicled in the winter 2011 issue of UVU Magazine. Klaus, a former graduate student of Shimada, embraced the work of his mentor, and founded the 30-year Lambayeque Valley Biohistory Project in 2003.

Since then Klaus has involved UVU anthropology students in the intensive, hands-on field research and study abroad program focused on analysis of human remains to unlock secrets about the Sicán culture, politics, and religious rites that included human sacrifice. Shimada and Klaus and his students conduct their fieldwork and lab analysis at the Museo Nacional Sicán in Ferreñafe, Peru, the museum Shimada founded in 2001.

Admission is free and open to all. There will also be a reception following Shimada's lecture at the International Center in the Woodbury Business Building, Room 147.

Shimada's visit is hosted by UVU's College of Humanities & Social Sciences, the Behavioral Science Department, and the International Center. For more information about Shimada and his presentation to UVU, please contact Mike Rigert at 801-863-6807. For more information about Shimada's research on the Sicán, go to www.sican.org.