Combine your Interest in Pre-Columbian Art and Digital Technology

The Foundation for Latin American Anthropological Research (FLAAR) is dedicated to the research and promotion of art and architecture from ancient Latin America. It is committed to educating the public using the best available digital and educational technologies. Recently they’ve been expanding their digital imaging center in Guatemala, and have made incredible advances in photographing and printing complete pictures of the designs on ancient Maya artifacts using digital cameras and new HP large format printers.

The color prints are extraordinary, showing minute details of carved and painted pottery vases. The enlarged images are printed on paper rolls 36 inches wide and 100 feet long. The designs on circular ceramic bowls and vases are scanned so the images on their curving surfaces are printed onto flat paper to be studied more easily. These color digital prints are called “rollouts.” Because the small details can be enlarged to 36” high by 72” long, the enlargements make it easier to see amazing details that reveal information about Mayan gods, iconography, rituals, daily life, and key details about the ballgame.

Students who are seriously interested in Mayan studies including archaeology, architecture and art, and/or want to learn this new digital imaging technology can apply for volunteer opportunities at the FLAAR Digital Imaging Center in Guatemala City. For more information, visit Maya-Archaeology.org.