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As the nearest galaxy of significant size, the LMC is an invaluable laboratory for the study of stellar and galactic evolution. However, the details of its star formation history and chemical evolution are not yet known with high precision. We have used the ESO VLT to obtain spectra of nearly 400 red giants in a field 0.3 degrees from the center of the LMC, revealing the metallicity distribution of the bar for ages older than 1 Gyr for the first time. In combination with our deep color-magnitude diagrams, we are beginning to place unique new constraints on the age-metallicity relation in the LMC. The radial velocities of our sample are entirely consistent with thin disk models for the LMC, but there is a factor of two increase in velocity dispersion between the metal-rich end and the metal-poor end of the sample, indicating a possible thick disk or halo population. |