Alejandra Alonso

Alejandra Alonso is an archaeologist and conservator at the National Institute of Anthropology and History in Mexico since 1994. She received her BA in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage at the National School of Conservation, Restauration and Museography (1996)  in Mexico. Her MA Degree in Anthropology (2003) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and her Ph.D. in Archaeology from the University of Calgary (2014) in Canada.  She has taught different courses in Archaeology, Anthropology and Latin America studies at the Anthropology, Archaeology and History Departments of University of Calgary, from 2013 to 2023.

She also has taught at the National School of Anthropology and History in Mexico from 2016 to 2022. She has conducted conservation projects in Templo Mayor, Nachtun, Tajín, Calakmul, Dzibanche, Kohunlich, Copán, Belize and Ek Balam. She has coordinated the longest conservation Project for INAH at Ek Balam Archaeological Site, from 2001 to 2024. Her conservation approach includes technical training of local maya people, technological studies of art and architecture at the site, periodical recording and monitoring of architectural features, and continuous maintenance and preventive conservation strategies for architectural decorations. She was appointed Ek Balam Archaeological Site Director in 2023.

Since 2017 she has co-directed the Ichmul Archaeological Project with Dr. Greg Smith from Northwestern University, in Yucatan. Lately she is devoting time for designing education programs for local communities around Ek Balam to promote the protection of the natural and cultural heritage of Ek Balam. She is interested in writing materials devoted to engaging children and youth with cultural heritage, traditions, and nature.

During her professional career at INAH Alejandra has conducted important multidisciplinary research in conservation and archaeology for miscellaneous archaeological materials. Since 2017 to date, she is a consultant of COEDMAC-Santander Project from Harvard University and the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Honduras, where she has provided technical training, technical guidelines for the conservation of mural paintings, stucco and stone sculpture of Copan Archaeological Park. She has designed the conservation project for the stucco decorations of Rosalila´s east panel, Margarita, Motmot, the Crocodile, and Bird stucco panels, all of them important decorative elements of early buildings of Copan Acropolis. In 2019 she designed the conservation project for the Chiik Nahb painting complex at Calakmul.

She has published numerous articles in books, journals, and magazines. She has presented her work in several national and international conferences, meetings, for varied audiences. Her work has been awarded by the University of Calgary, ICCROM, CONACYT, and INAH.