Archaeology Lecture: Modeling Mesoamerican Masks
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Discover how a 3D modeling project at San Diego State University is bringing a historic collection of Mesoamerican masks into the digital age. This lecture will explore how these digital models are enhancing teaching and public interpretation while tracing the deep history of masks as ritual, funerary, and ceremonial objects in ancient societies like Teotihuacan. The presentation will also examine how these traditions endure today in community practices such as danzas, offering a look at the ongoing cultural significance of masks across centuries of change.
Meet your lecturers:
Keith Chan is a local anthropology instructor at Grossmont College, MiraCosta College, and San Diego State University. He is especially interested in using immersive technology in his teaching to bring students face-to-face with culture and biology. He created the virtual anthropology museum AnVRopomotron, which won the first Poly Award for Best Educational Experience, and is working on PaleoCalifornia, which turns the Pleistocene into a virtual reality theme park ride. He was also a recent research fellow at SDSU's Virtual Immersive Learning and Teaching center, in which he launched the current project on masks.
Irene Gonzalez received her M.A. in Latin American Studies from San Diego State University, where her research focused on cultural preservation. Her work has explored the importance of community museums, specifically in Mexico, where she conducted field research in Oaxaca. She is currently the Collections Coordinator for the Mesoamerican Mask Collection at SDSU’s Center for Latin American Studies. Irene is passionate about bridging technology and cultural heritage in ways that are equitable and grounded in deep respect for Indigenous knowledge systems.
Event Supported By
San Diego Archaeological Center
(Photo by John Koster - For the North County Times) The San Diego Archaeological Center Provides: Curation of archaeological collections, educational programs, public exhibits, quarterly newsletter, public lecture series, curation volunteer training, student internships, research opportunities and cultural renewal. The San Diego Archaeological Center is a museum where visitors can learn the story of how people have lived in San Diego County for the past 10,000 years. In addition to its role as a museum, the Center serves as an education and research facility and is the only local organization dedicated to the collection, study, curation and exhibition of San Diego County's archaeological artifacts. The San Diego Archaeological Center is a nationally recognized leader in the curation of archaeological collections, curating collections for the Department of Defense, City of San Diego and private parties. The Center accepts for accession archaeological collections to preserve in perpetuity for the benefit of the public. The Center museum is open to the public, with a suggested donation of $2 per person or $5 per family.