The members of the Arsmaya Group (GIUV2013-094) have been carrying out uninterrupted fieldwork in the field of art, archaeology and cultural heritage, both in Spain and in America, since 2000. The team includes experts in art and archaeology as well as specialists in architecture, restoration, physico-chemical analysis of materials and development cooperation.
Research activities in Spain have been directed towards intervention projects in historic buildings, archaeological research in the surrounding areas and the study of exhumed materials (ceramics, glass, coins, bone remains, etc.), mainly through the Projects: Iglesia Colegiata Santa María de Gandía y Plaza del Fossar (GV 2000-2004) and Iglesia de San Martín Obispo y San Antonio Abad de Valencia (GV 2008-2009), as well as other heritage documentation actions through the use of new digital technologies (Iglesia Arciprestal and Acueducto de Morella). In the Americas, archaeological research has been carried out in the archaeological area of Petén, Guatemala, with the aim of investigating and highlighting the rich cultural heritage of the Mayan urban settlements in the Mopán river basin. The centres studied intensively have been La Blanca and Chilonché. These works have been developed through the Project La Blanca and its surroundings (Spanish Ministry of Culture and Palarq Foundation, 2004 to 2019). Another research activity of the Group is the study of Maya architecture through the analysis of the compositional criteria, formal solutions, architectural typologies, construction systems and materials used in the construction of the buildings, as well as the iconographic analysis of the artistic manifestations with which they were ornamented, including the art of graffiti.
These actions have been carried out uninterruptedly since 2005 through numerous R+D+i projects granted by different institutions: Ministry of Education, Generalitat Valenciana, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain. This line of research also includes that developed in recent years on the application of the gender perspective in the interpretation of the spaces and uses of the buildings investigated, through the project Women, Art and Antiquity. Breaking clichés. In the field of archaeometry, the Group is developing two projects: Archaeometry of colour in the Mayan area and Archaeometry of cosmetics and perfume in Mesoamerica. The first project involves the physico-chemical characterisation of the mural paintings from the different settlements investigated. The second project aims to learn about the substances used in the ancient cultures of Mesoamerica to prepare the body pigments and aromas used by the elite.
The Group has also carried out numerous actions of transfer to society, especially those developed within the La Blanca Project (creation of an Interpretation Centre, open-air musealisation of the archaeological site, training and capacity building of local inhabitants in various activities related to tourism, conservation of cultural heritage and empowerment of women), which were sponsored by different institutions: Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, Universitat de València, Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, University of Granada, Prince Claus Fund, BALAM Association, Guatemalan Institute of Tourism. Thanks to the incorporation in this last decade of New Technologies applied to pre-Columbian cultural heritage, through the project for Research Groups of Excellence Prometeo-Mayatech (Generalitat Valenciana 2016-2019 and 2020-2023), numerous ideal 3D restitutions of the buildings and objects investigated have been generated, both of La Blanca and Chilonché and of other important Mayan World Heritage cities, such as Quirigúa and Tikal in Guatemala, or Uxmal in Mexico, thus achieving greater dissemination of the results of these investigations to the general public (http://mayatech.artemaya.es/).
- Archaeological interventions in cultural heritage.
- Conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage.
- Development of databases on works of art and artistic materials.
- Documentation and dissemination of cultural heritage.
- Archaeometric analysis of archaeological objects and materials.
- Archaeometry of colour in the Maya area
Physico-chemical characterisation of mural painting from the Maya Lowlands. Bank with more than 300 samples from murals that decorated the Mayan palaces of Yucatan and Campeche (Mexico) and Petén (Guatemala). Elaboration of the database "Materials and techniques of Maya mural painting".
- Mayan art and archaeology
Interventions in Mayan archaeological heritage aimed at its documentation and enhancement, as well as the interpretation of changes in social organisation and in the economic, political and ideological events that occurred in ancient times.
- Archaeometry of cosmetics and perfume in ancient Mesoamerica
Physico-chemical characterisation of the substances that were used in the ancient cultures of Mesoamerica to prepare the body pigments and aromas used by the upper social classes, which had great aesthetic, symbolic and ritual importance.
- Dissemination of Mayan cultural heritage
Creation of Interpretation Centres and musealisation of Mayan archaeological sites. Application of new technologies for the study and dissemination of cultural heritage: laser scanner data collection system, ideal 3D reconstructions, virtual archaeology and augmented reality.
- Valencian medieval archaeology
Interventions in Valencian historical buildings from the medieval period. Documentation and interpretation of the different phases of occupation and study of the remains of medieval culture (ceramics, glass, coins, bone remains, etc.).
- Iconography and conservation of pre-Hispanic mural painting and graffiti
Analysis and iconographic study of the mural representations and engraved graffiti on pre-Hispanic buildings. Establishment of a methodology for their recording, documentation and conservation. Consolidation of the "Maya Graffiti" database.
- VIDAL LORENZO, CRISTINA
- PDI-Catedratic/a d'Universitat
- LOPEZ BERTRAN, MIREIA
- PDI-Titular d'Universitat
- Vicedega/Vicedegana / Vicedirector/a Ets
- PARPAL CABANES, ESTHER
- PI-Postd_Conselleria_Ant.Apostd2022
- FELIU BELTRAN, NURIA
- PDI-Substitut/A
Partners
- Begoña Carrascosa Moliner - Universitat Politècnica de València.
- Gaspar Muñoz Cosme - Universitat Politècnica de València.
Blasco Ibáñez Campus
Av. Blasco Ibáñez, 28
46010 València (Valencia)
- VIDAL LORENZO, CRISTINA
- PDI-Catedratic/a d'Universitat
