Publications
Tourism use and management of archaeological resources associated with the “Ruta de la Guerra de Castas”: opportunities and threats of community‑based tourism
Community-based tourism models along the 'Ruta de la Guerra de Castas' in Uxmal, Mexico, offer significant potential for social cohesion and sustainable economic development. This study highlights that such models empower local populations while fostering solidarity economies, provided they are underpinned by democratic governance frameworks. The research, integrating qualitative tools like workshops, focus groups, and interviews with local communities, underscores the critical role of institutional coordination and community participation in effective archaeological heritage management. It identifies both opportunities—such as enhanced social cohesion—and threats, including the need for stronger collaboration among institutions, communities, and private actors to ensure long-term sustainability.
Subterranean Biodiversity in Cenotes in Mexico
Subterranean biodiversity in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, particularly within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Uxmal, harbors specialized species found nowhere else on Earth. These aquatic ecosystems—cenotes—support unique communities of fish, crustaceans, echinoderms, and sponges that spend their entire lives in caves. The study provides a generalized classification of cenotes, detailing their energy sources and the adaptations of these species to subterranean environments. However, increasing anthropogenic pressure threatens this biodiversity, necessitating urgent conservation efforts. The research reflects on the future of these ecosystems, highlighting the need for sustainable management to preserve their diversity amid growing human activity.
Mesoamerican urbanism revisited: Environmental change, adaptation, resilience, persistence, and collapse
A groundbreaking re-evaluation of Mesoamerican urbanism reveals that pre-Hispanic cities, such as Uxmal, were not merely defined by collapse but showcased resilience and adaptation to environmental changes. This study challenges traditional narratives by integrating archaeological advancements with sustainability science, highlighting the organizational diversity and adaptive strategies of these societies. By shifting focus from failure to empirical accounts of resilience, researchers offer valuable insights into urban adaptation mechanisms that could inform modern responses to climate change. The approach combines excavating, analyzing, and contextualizing archaeological materials to provide a synthetic perspective on Mesoamerican urbanism.
Maya Ruins, Cultural Tourism and the Contested Symbolism of Collective Identities
The development of accessible Maya archaeological sites, such as Uxmal, into cultural tourism attractions has created a supranational framework that fuels the growth of Maya ethnonationalism. This transformation, driven by economic and occupational factors, constructs an unrepresentative image of Maya civilization, shaping modern nation-state heritage while also influencing collective identities. The study examines how mass tourism and cultural resource management interact to produce this symbolic shift, highlighting the contested nature of these representations in contemporary society.
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