Mesoamerican, Amazonian, and Andean Studies - USP

The Center for Mesoamerican and Andean Studies was founded in mid-2000 by graduate students from the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (MAE) and the Department of History (DH/FFLCH) at the University of São Paulo (USP). Since then, its main goal has been to support and promote the development of academic research in Brazil on the Indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica and the Central Andes, especially during the pre-Hispanic and colonial periods. It also aims to foster dialogue between these studies and research focused on the culture and history of Indigenous populations from other regions of the Americas or from different historical periods.
In recent years, CEMA has undergone changes, welcoming new members and collaborators who have expanded our scope of work. To reflect this new internal reality, since 2023, we have been known as the Center for Mesoamerican, Amazonian, and Andean Studies, or CEMAA-USP.