Fitxa persona

In 1996, I obtained my Ph.D. from the University of Cantabria, specializing in prehistoric settlement patterns within the western Cantabrian valleys. Subsequently, I undertook a four-year postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2000, I won one of the positions in the Spanish national program for Doctors and Technologists abroad. Since then I carry out my research activity in the Department of Prehistory and Archaeology of the University of Valencia where, as the director of the Department of Prehistory, Archaeology, and Ancient History, I have collaborated in the implementation of the new degree in Archeology.
Throughout his career, I have authored over 100 articles and four monographs. My research is characterized by an interdisciplinary approach, integrating archeology with chemistry (elemental analysis of archaeological materials), ethnography, and environmental studies. The primary research areas include Landscape Archaeology, cultural contact, underwater archaeology, and the application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to archaeology. Notably, the development of the SIDGEIPA Archaeological Information System, the utilization of 3D technologies for virtual reconstructions, and Bayesian dating methods stand out within this field. Additionally, I have collaborated in archeochemical research, resulting in high-impact publications.
My international vocation is reflected in projects like Archaeoglobe (Ethiopia, Brazil, the USA, Spain), and a long-term investigation in the Western Amazon with students from various international universities. Additionally, I have been visiting scholar at the universities of California (Berkeley) from 1996 to 2000, Arizona State University in 2021, and Universidade Federal do Acre (Brazil) in 2017.
In the teaching and mentoring field, he has directed six doctoral theses. I am the IP of the METARQ innovation group (Active Methods for the Learning of Archaeology), which promotes pedagogical innovation.
I have extensive experience directing field projects for over 30 years and has led more than 20 projects, including logistically challenging environments such as high mountain areas and the Amazon rainforest. Currently, I am the codirector of significant projects, including El Sec shipwreck (Calvià, Mallorca), the Phoenician shipwreck of Mazarrón II and the shipwreck of Moll de Sa Trona (Menorca), and the excavations in the caves of Merinel (Bugarra) and the Sapo (Xiva).
Heritage has demonstrated its potential to transform into a catalyst for sustainable development and foster social and economic cohesion. Notably, an innovative model has emerged from the excavations at the National Park of Picos de Europa, involving local communities in the development of a sustainable archaeological tourism model in collaboration with park authorities and the tourism sector. This model encompasses the establishment of archaeological trails that facilitate controlled and respectful access to sites, the development of interpretive materials and educational initiatives to promote responsible cultural tourism, the integration of research into environmental conservation for awareness, and the promotion of local economic development through cultural tourism.
This professional trajectory aligns directly with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), contributing to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) through heritage management technologies, and SDG 11 (Partnerships for the Goals) by collaborating with local communities and promoting social cohesion. Additionally, it contributes to SDG 4 (Quality Education) through educational programs on heritage, and SDG 15 (Life on Land) by protecting biodiversity and ecosystems within protected natural environments.

Since 1989, I have directed fieldwork at over twenty archaeological sites. All of these projects have a significant methodological component, and many involve logistically challenging situations, ranging from interventions in mountainous areas subject to extreme weather conditions to camps in the Amazon rainforest. These projects have always prioritized internationalization, attracting students from foreign universities (University of California, Berkeley -USA-; University of California, Davis -USA-; Federal University of Acre -Brazil-; Durham University; Arizona State University) as well as students from various Spanish universities. As a representative of different university groups, I have participated in negotiations with university administrations, covering topics ranging from establishing tenure conditions for individuals from talent attraction programs or adjunct professors to developing a stance against the Israeli genocide in Gaza. I have participated, as an elected member, in the works council of the University of Valencia (three terms), in its Senate, in the Board of of the Faculty of Geography and History, in the Academic Title Commission (CAT) of the History degree, in the CAT of the Philosophy degree, in the Academic Coordination Commission of the university master’s degree in Archaeology, and led the negotiations for the implementation of the Archaeology degree at the UV-EG.
Finally, the IPAP-*DANA project represents a significant contribution to open science and society by engaging large-scale citizen participation and digital efforts in the recovery and preservation of cultural heritage. Through Epicollect5 application, the project facilitates the compilation and mapping of the dangers in the archaeological and cultural heritage of Valencia caused by the fateful DANA of October 29, 2024. All the collected information is integrated into an interactive online map, which serves as a consultation window. It is immediately useful for the planning of recovery actions and also functions as a digital memory repository to document and preserve the status of the heritage in the long term. This methodology actively promotes open access to data and transparency, while its emphasis on active social participation involves the students of the History degree of the University of Valencia in field tasks. This reinforces the collective commitment to the protection of cultural heritage and transforms it into a shared responsibility.