Laura Van Broekhoven

Laura Van Broekhoven is a renowned archaeologist and expert in the field of Mesoamerican archaeology, with a particular focus on the Maya civilization and its interactions with other Pre-Columbian civilizations such as the Aztecs and Olmec. Her work has taken her to various sites in Mexico, including Tulum, Chichen Itza, and Teotihuacan, as well as to Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. Van Broekhoven's research has been influenced by the works of prominent archaeologists such as Michael Coe, Linda Schele, and David Stuart, and has contributed to a deeper understanding of the Classic Maya collapse and the role of trade networks in Mesoamerican chronology.

● Early Life and Education

Laura Van Broekhoven was born in Leiden, Netherlands, and developed an interest in archaeology at a young age, inspired by the works of Heinrich Schliemann and his excavations at Troy. She pursued her undergraduate degree in Archaeology at Leiden University, where she was mentored by professors such as Willem Adelaar and Corinne Hofman. Van Broekhoven's graduate studies took her to University College London, where she earned her master's degree under the supervision of Elizabeth Graham and Norman Hammond, and later to Harvard University, where she completed her Ph.D. in Anthropology under the guidance of William L. Fash and David Carrasco.

● Career

Van Broekhoven's career in archaeology has spanned over two decades, during which she has worked on numerous excavations and research projects in Mesoamerica, including the Pacunam project in Guatemala, the Caracol project in Belize, and the Tollan project in Mexico. She has collaborated with institutions such as the National Museum of Anthropology (Mexico), the British Museum, and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, and has worked with prominent archaeologists such as Richard Hansen, Arlen Chase, and Diane Chase. Van Broekhoven's expertise in ceramic analysis and iconography has been applied to the study of various Mesoamerican cultures, including the Mixtec, Zapotec, and Toltec.

● Research and Publications

Van Broekhoven's research has focused on the social and cultural dynamics of Mesoamerican societies, including the role of trade and exchange, ritual and ceremony, and political organization. She has published numerous articles and book chapters in journals such as American Antiquity, Journal of Archaeological Research, and Ancient Mesoamerica, and has edited volumes such as The Maya and Their Sacred Landscape and Mesoamerican Archaeology: Theory and Practice. Van Broekhoven's work has been influenced by theoretical frameworks such as postprocessual archaeology and cultural materialism, and has engaged with the research of scholars such as Clifford Geertz, Sherry Ortner, and Anthony Giddens.

● Awards and Honors

Throughout her career, Van Broekhoven has received several awards and honors for her contributions to the field of archaeology, including the National Science Foundation's CAREER Award, the Wenner-Gren Foundation's Post-Ph.D. Research Grant, and the Society for American Archaeology's Award for Excellence in Archaeological Analysis. She has also been recognized by institutions such as the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Mexican Academy of Sciences, and the Guatemalan Academy of Sciences, and has been elected as a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

● Professional Affiliations

Van Broekhoven is a member of several professional organizations, including the Society for American Archaeology, the Archaeological Institute of America, and the International Council of Museums. She has served on the editorial boards of journals such as Journal of Archaeological Research and Ancient Mesoamerica, and has participated in conferences and workshops organized by institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Oxford, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Van Broekhoven has also collaborated with museums such as the National Museum of the American Indian and the Field Museum of Natural History, and has worked with cultural heritage organizations such as the World Monuments Fund and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property. Category:Archaeologists