Talking about Ignacio Martín Lerma is talking about the living example of a 21st-century archaeologist, between the rigor of university research and mass scientific dissemination.
Ignacio Martín Lerma obtained his Doctorate in Prehistory focusing his specialization on the Paleolithic period. Throughout his career, his main lines of research have been centered on material culture and the behavior of hunter-gatherer societies through two fundamental scientific methodologies: traceology and experimental archaeology. To this is added Ethnoarchaeology, conducting fieldwork and stays with indigenous communities in the Lacandon Jungle (Chiapas, Mexico) and Guatemala.
Since 2011, Martín Lerma has served as a professor and researcher at the Prehistory Area of the University of Murcia (UMU).
Throughout his career, he has led and participated in numerous national and international archaeological campaigns, with the "Cueva del Arco" project (Cieza, Murcia) standing out. As director of this project (alongside Didac Román from Universitat Jaume I), he leads research at one of the most important Paleolithic enclaves on the eastern peninsula, located in the Almadenes Canyon (Cieza, Murcia). The results of his investigations have been presented at the most relevant congresses in his field and published in national and international impact journals.
His work as a disseminator transcends social media, regularly participating in reference programs on public television such as The Condensator of Fluxo, The Adventure of Knowledge and Archaeomania, all broadcast on La 2 of TVE. His commitment to the dissemination of scientific knowledge and the promotion of archaeological heritage has earned him various awards and recognitions throughout his career.
In his role as an author, he has published best-selling books that combine scientific rigor with accessible narrative, such as Prehistory in a Backpack. Travel Diary of a Neanderthal (Aguilar), Prehistory (Shackleton Books), or Neandertals. The story of a lost lineage (Pinolia).
In recognition of his career and the international relevance of his Paleolithic studies, he was named a member of the Royal Academy Alfonso X the Wise of Murcia.
His intellectual profile complements artistic ventures such as film direction (producing award-winning short films and scientific documentaries) and poetry.
1. To start this interview, we like to get to know the person behind the professional, in this case, behind the archaeologist. Where does your interest in the past, especially Prehistory, come from?
I believe my interest in the past stems from a mix of curiosity and fascination with big questions. From a very young age, I was intrigued by who had lived before us, how their lives were like, and how they came to build the world we inhabit today. Prehistory captivated me especially because it is the longest period and paradoxically, the most unknown part of our history. For more than 99% of human existence, there was no writing. Everything we know comes from small clues: a fire pit, a stone tool, a bone, a use mark... Reconstructing a human story from such fragmentary evidence has something scientific and adventurous that continues to fascinate me today exactly the same way it did when I was a student.
2. You always define traceology as the "C.S.I. of Prehistory." If we could look through your microscope right now, what use mark or discovery on a stone tool has impressed you most or changed how you understand hominids?
What's fascinating about traceology is that it allows us to move from asking what an object is to asking what it was actually used for. And this change in perception is enormous. I remember with special amazement the first pieces I analyzed and how suddenly "simple flint fragments" turned out to be effective tools that had worked on hides, wood or bones. Thanks to the microscope, these rocks ceased being objects and became specific human actions.
3. In Prehistory, and in other historical periods, the catch-all term "ritual" is sometimes used to explain the functioning and use of certain archaeological remains. To what extent do you think it's well or poorly employed to define hominid behavior?
Ritual exists and has been part of human experience for tens of thousands of years. The problem arises when we use the word "ritual" to explain things that we still don't understand. In archaeology, we must be very cautious. Sometimes we find structures, deposits or behaviors for which we do not yet have a clear explanation, and the temptation is to automatically resort to symbolic or ritual explanations. However, good research should exhaust all functional, economic, or social explanations before reaching that conclusion.
That said, we also know that Neanderthals and sapiens of the Paleolithic developed complex symbolic behaviors. The real challenge lies in distinguishing when we have solid evidence versus projecting our own interpretations onto the past.
4. Cueva del Arco is one of the few places in the Mediterranean that records the transition between the last Neanderthals and the first modern humans. With current data, do you believe there was peaceful coexistence, cultural assimilation, or a sudden replacement?
The most honest answer is that we still don't know for certain. For years, it was defended that sapiens rapidly replaced Neanderthals. Today we know that both populations coexisted in certain regions and even interbred biologically. All modern humans retain a small part of Neanderthal DNA.
Cueva del Arco offers an exceptional opportunity to study this critical moment. My impression is that there wasn't just one story. In some places, competition may have existed, and in others, temporary coexistence with probable knowledge exchange. The transition between Neanderthals and sapiens was a complex human process, not simply the replacement of one species by another.
5. In 2021, at "Catedral del Paleolítico," an intact underground network with bear scratches and giant vaults was discovered. When they managed to remove the blocks and entered this sealed cavity for the first time after millennia, what did you think as a scientist and how did you feel personally?
It was one of those moments that justify dedicating your life to archaeology. As a scientist, my first thought was about the enormous responsibility we faced. We knew that any observation, step or decision could affect an area that had remained practically untouched for thousands of years. But as a person, it was impossible not to be moved. Entering a place where no one has been since prehistoric times is hard to describe. The bear marks on the walls, the dimensions of the galleries and the absolute silence generated an almost overwhelming impression...
For a few seconds, you stop thinking about scientific articles and projects and simply realize that you are witnessing a fragment of human and natural history that has remained hidden for millennia.
6. Besides your research work, dissemination plays an important role in your career. Looking back, which projects have given you the most satisfaction or stand out to you?
Research and dissemination are, for me, two sides of the same coin. Science makes sense when it generates knowledge but also when that knowledge returns to society. If I had to highlight some projects, without a doubt, I would mention Cueva del Arco because it represents years of collective work and is providing extraordinary information about the Paleolithic peninsula. Also, I have special affection for all my books (Prehistory in a Backpack, Prehistory for younger audiences or Neandertals) as they've allowed me to bring our origins closer to readers who may never have opened a specialized book before. And, of course, programs like The Condensator of Fluxo, The Adventure of Knowledge and collaborations with Radio Nacional de España that gave me the chance to see there's huge social interest in the past when it's told rigorously but warmly.
7. With the emergence of generative AI, we're witnessing a shift where people are leaving Google for chatbots. How do you think this change will affect historical understanding?
Artificial intelligence represents an extraordinary tool but also a significant challenge. Its main advantage is democratizing access to knowledge and allowing quick and understandable answers. However, there's an evident risk: users accepting responses without questioning where the sources come from or what evidence supports them.
History and archaeology are disciplines full of nuances, uncertainties, and debates. A good historical explanation doesn't just provide a response but also explains what we know, don't know, and why. That's why I believe AI will be an excellent ally if we learn to use it critically. The future isn't about replacing human thought but complementing it.
8. To conclude, what advice would you give to your younger self, the one starting studies in Archaeology and Prehistory? What advice could you give to our readers who are in a similar situation?
I'd tell them to be patient. We live in a society accustomed to immediate results, but research is a marathon. Important discoveries usually come after years of work, mistakes, doubts and constant effort. I would also advise not being afraid to cross disciplinary boundaries. Modern archaeology needs scientists capable of dialoguing with geology, biology, chemistry, informatics or artificial intelligence.
And to any young person who wants to dedicate themselves to this field, I'd give a simple advice: keep your curiosity alive. Archaeology isn't just about digging and finding objects; it's about asking questions. As long as we continue asking ourselves questions about who we are and where we come from, archaeology will make sense.
You can find more information on Ignacio Martín Lerma through the following links to his profiles and projects:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/i_martinlerma
X (Twitter): https://x.com/I_MartinLerma
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MartinLermaPrehistoria
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignaciomartinlerma
Web: ignaciomartinlerma.com
Interviewed by:
Mª Dolores Rodas Romero
Communication Area
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