Laura Romero Padilla
About Laura Romero Padilla
I am a PhD candidate in Archaeology at the University of Arizona, with a minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). My research examines ritual practices in caves and other sacred landscapes among ancient Maya communities in Mexico, with particular attention to the relationships between ritual, performance, borders and the construction of sacred landscapes.
I received my MA in Mesoamerican Studies from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). My doctoral studies have been supported by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT). During my doctoral studies, I have participated in archaeological research and heritage preservation projects in Mexico, including work with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and the Middle Usumacinta Archaeological Project. My field experience includes archaeological reconnaissance, cave documentation, mapping, photography, and the documentation and analysis of archaeological materials.
My broader research interests include Mesoamerican archaeology, ancient Maya societies, ritual and religious practices, cave archaeology and speleoarchaeology, sacred landscapes, performance, memory, and heritage preservation. I am also interested in using GIS and digital approaches to document archaeological landscapes and developing new ways of communicating archaeological research with diverse communities.