Jose Angel Lecanda Esteban

Jose Angel Lecanda Esteban is a Lecturer in the Department of International Relations and Humanities at the University of Deusto's Faculty of Social and Human Sciences in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. His academic work focuses on medieval archaeology, historical geography, and the study of frontier territories in medieval Spain, with particular expertise in the Ebro Valley region.

Dr. Lecanda's research spans multiple chronological periods with significant contributions in Medieval Archaeology, Paleolithic Studies, Historical Geography, and Frontier Studies. His work demonstrates methodological sophistication, combining archaeological evidence with historical analysis to reconstruct social structures and territorial dynamics. He has conducted extensive fieldwork on privileged tombs in the Upper Ebro Valley, border fortifications, and pilgrimage routes including the Camino de Santiago's coastal route through Biscay.

His scholarly output reveals consistent engagement with themes of territorial formation, social organization in medieval contexts, and material culture transitions from Late Antiquity to the High Middle Ages. His publications demonstrate a critical perspective on border concepts, arguing that frontiers should be understood not merely as lines but as dynamic zones of interaction. His recent work includes the 2022 publication on the Artekale 6 Middle Paleolithic site in Plentzia, which analyzes Neanderthal settlement strategies in the Uribe Kosta region.

• Privileged Tombs in the Upper Ebro Valley: from the Duchy of Cantabria to the Condado of Castille
• Castilla, la fortificada frontera oriental de Asturias (Castile, the fortified eastern border of Asturias)
• Civitas, castellum, vicus aut villa en el ducado de Cantabria
• Pecado y penitencia. Mentalidades y sociedad en la plena Edad Media a través de la iconografía románica del Camino de Santiago en Araba

Dr. Lecanda maintains an active research profile with publications spanning archaeology, history, art history, and historical geography. His collaborative work with institutions across northern Spain reflects his integration into the regional academic community. His current research appears focused on the historical heritage of Urbaibai as a sustainable development resource, indicating an expanding interest in applied heritage studies and the practical applications of historical research.