Ignacio Martín-Lerma

Ignacio Martín-Lerma is a Professor at the University of Murcia within the Department of Prehistory, Archaeology, Ancient History, Medieval History and Historiographic Sciences and Techniques. He holds a PhD in Prehistory from the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) and specializes in Paleolithic studies, particularly focusing on Neanderthal ecology and the Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition.

• Research Focus: Paleolithic archaeology, lithic technology analysis, use-wear studies, and science communication.
• Key Projects: Director of archaeological excavations at Cueva del Arco in Cieza, Spain, with a focus on Gravettian and Aurignacian occupations.

His interdisciplinary research combines lithic analysis, paleobotanical data, and geochemical techniques to understand human settlement patterns in Mediterranean Iberia. Recent publications explore topics like Neanderthal persistence in Southern Europe and the functional aspects of Magdalenian stone tools. He has also pioneered science communication initiatives targeting intellectual disability communities, including field experiences and itinerant exhibitions.

• Notable Outputs:
  • The Early Upper Palaeolithic in Cueva del Arco (2024) - Multidisciplinary analysis of Gravettian occupation in Mediterranean Iberia
  • Precise dating of the Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition in Murcia (2017) - Evidence for 3,000-year delay in Neanderthal-modern human transition