Daniela Maria Raillard Arias

Daniela Maria Raillard Arias is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Vancouver Island University and a PhD Candidate at Northwestern University. Her dual roles combine teaching and research in Andean archaeology with a focus on pre-colonial Andean cultures, landscape archaeology, and community-engaged methodologies. She holds an MA and BA from Northwestern University and the University of Toronto, respectively, with a focus on Anthropology and Archaeology.

Her research centers on the Chachapoya region of Peru, investigating mortuary landscapes, ecological resilience, and the interplay between ancestral monuments and community identity. As Co-Director of the MAPA-SACHA Archaeological Research Project, she employs geospatial technologies and participatory approaches to explore how ancient communities navigated ecological and social crises. Daniela is trilingual (English, Spanish, French) and actively involved in heritage preservation and equitable archaeology practices.

Academically, she has received over $200,000 in grants, including fellowships from the Wenner-Gren Foundation and Northwestern’s CNAIR. Her work has been presented at major conferences such as the Society for American Archaeology, with publications spanning mortuary architecture analysis, digital heritage, and Indigenous research methodologies.

Teaching highlights include courses in Archaeology and Sociocultural Anthropology, praised for her mentorship and dedication to student success. She balances academic rigor with outreach, having served as a tour guide and laboratory assistant early in her career. Daniela’s affiliations include the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research and the Spatial Archaeology Online and Residential Institute.