Sonia Machause Lopez

Sonia Machause López is a Lecturer in the Department of Prehistory and Archaeology at the Faculty of Geography and History, University of Valencia. She is a member of the GRAM Archaeological Research Group on the Mediterranean and holds a PhD from the University of Valencia (2017) on ritual caves in the Iberian Iron Age. Her work bridges archaeological theory, landscape analysis, and sensory studies, focusing on ritual practices in natural spaces.

• PhD in Mediterranean Prehistory and Archaeology, University of Valencia (2017)
• Thesis: Caves as ritual spaces in Iberian Iron Ages: the cases of Kelin, Edeta and Arse
• Supervisors: Dr. Consuelo Mata Parreño, Dr. Carmen Aranegui Gascó

Her research centers on Iberian Iron Age ritual practices, particularly the use of caves as sacred spaces. She integrates GIS, archaeoastronomy, and sensory archaeology to explore ritual landscapes, territoriality, and embodied experiences. Her work emphasizes multisensory dimensions, ritual journeys, and the symbolic role of water and darkness in underground spaces. She has published extensively on sites such as Cueva del Sapo, Sima de l'Aigua, and Cova de les Dones.

Her recent publications reveal a strong trend toward interdisciplinary methodologies, combining material analysis with spatial and sensory modeling. She frequently collaborates with experts in archaeozoology, geophysics, and ethnography. Her work challenges elite-centric models of ritual, emphasizing community participation and variability in religious experiences.

• Enduring Sacred Places: The Astronomical Orientation of the Iberian Cave-Sanctuary of Cueva Santa del Cabriel in Spain (2019)
• Caves, Senses, and Ritual Flows in the Iberian Iron Age: The Territory of Edeta (2022)
• Delving into the Iberian rituality of the Sima de l'Aigua (2024)

Sonia Machause López actively mentors early-career researchers and participates in academic dissemination, including public talks and gender studies in archaeology. She has contributed to projects on women in universities and archaeological outreach. While no specific grants are listed, her sustained research output suggests active funding support.

She is affiliated with the GRAM research group, which focuses on Mediterranean archaeological dynamics, ritual landscapes, and material culture. Her work often involves field prospection, laboratory analysis, and collaborative interpretation across disciplines.