Leonardo López Luján facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leonardo López Luján
Born	(1964-03-31) 31 March 1964 (age 61) Mexico City
Alma mater	Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Université de Paris X Nanterre
Known for	Excavations in Teotihuacan and Tenochtitlan. Studies on the origins of Mesoamerican archaeology
Awards	Fellow British Academy, Fellow El Colegio Nacional, Guggenheim Fellowship, Shanghai Archaeology Forum Award, Honorary Fellow American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Foreign Fellow Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
Scientific career
Fields	Archaeology
Institutions	Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History
Academic advisors	Eduardo Matos Moctezuma, Michel Graulich, Pierre Becquelin

Leonardo Náuhmitl López Luján (born March 31, 1964, in Mexico City) is a famous archaeologist. He is one of the top experts on ancient Central Mexican societies. He also studies the history of archaeology in Mexico.

Since 1991, he has led the Templo Mayor Project for Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). He is also the son of the well-known historian Alfredo López Austin. Leonardo López Luján is a member of many important groups, including El Colegio Nacional, the British Academy, and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.

Becoming an Archaeologist

Leonardo López Luján studied archaeology at Mexico's National School of Anthropology and History (ENAH). He was a student there from 1983 to 1987. His teacher, Eduardo Matos Moctezuma, helped him with his first big project. This project was about the special offerings found at the Templo Mayor in Tenochtitlan.

In 1992, he went to Paris Nanterre University to continue his studies. He earned his doctorate in 1998. His research focused on the religious ideas of the Templo Mayor, especially a building called "The House of Eagles."

Teaching and Research Around the World

During his career, López Luján has visited many famous universities. He has been a guest researcher at places like Princeton University and Harvard University. He has also taught as a visiting professor at the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne and the University of Rome–La Sapienza.

In Mexico, he works as a research professor at the Templo Mayor Museum. He also teaches at the National School of Conservation, Restoration, and Museography. He has been a leader in the Mexican Society of Anthropology. He is a highly respected researcher in Mexico's National System of Researchers.

His important work has been recognized by many international groups. He is an honorary member of the British Academy and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. In 2018, he joined El Colegio Nacional. This is a special Mexican group for the country's top artists and scientists.

Exploring Ancient Mexico

López Luján's main research looks at the religion, politics, and art of ancient Mexican societies. His work helps us understand how these groups thought about their past. He studies the hidden meanings in buried offerings and how animals were seen as important symbols. He also explores the purpose of sacred buildings and the meaning behind ancient sculptures.

He started working on archaeology projects when he was only eight years old! He has been part of many scientific teams in different parts of Mexico and even in Ecuador.

Discoveries at the Templo Mayor

A very important year for him was 1980. That's when he started working at the INAH's Templo Mayor Project. He helped with the first excavations at the sacred area in Tenochtitlan.

In 1991, he became the director of the Templo Mayor Project. He still holds this position today. He has led many archaeological digs there, including the most recent ones from 2014 to the present.

Working at Teotihuacan

He also worked on projects at the ancient city of Teotihuacan. He helped lead the Xalla Palace excavation project. He also worked on the Pyramid of the Moon Project, where important discoveries were made.

His projects have received funding from many universities, including the University of Colorado at Boulder and Harvard University.

Amazing Exhibitions

López Luján has helped create many major museum exhibitions. These shows have shared the wonders of ancient Mexico with people around the world. Some famous exhibitions include "The Aztec World" at the Field Museum in Chicago and "Moctezuma: Aztec Ruler" at the British Museum in London.

He has also curated exhibitions at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City and the Templo Mayor Museum. These shows have explored topics like the journey to the land of the dead and the colorful sculptures of Tenochtitlan.

Awards and Honors

Leonardo López Luján has received many awards for his work, both alone and with his teams. Here are some of them:

• The "Salvador Novo Fellowship" (1985).
• The "Diario de México/CONACYT Medal" for best student in Mexico (1991).
• The "Alfonso Caso Award" from Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (1998 and 2016).
• The "Guggenheim Fellowship" (2000).
• The "Shanghai Archaeology Forum Research Award 2015" (his Great Temple Project was named one of the world's top ten archaeological programs).
• "Top 10 Discoveries of the Year" from Archaeology Magazine (2017, 2022, and 2023).
• "Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy" from the University of Copenhagen (2023).
• "Chevallier de l'Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur" from France (2024).

He has also given important talks at many top universities and museums worldwide. These include Harvard, Stanford, the British Museum, and the Tokyo National Museum.

His teams have also won awards, such as:

• "Best Reference Source" from Library Journal (2001).
• "Shanghai Archaeology Forum Field Discovery Award 2013" for the Moon Pyramid Project (2013).
• "PROSE Award, Art Exhibitions Category" (2018).
• "Bank Note of the Year (2021) Award" (2022).

Books and Writings

Leonardo López Luján has written many books and essays about his archaeological discoveries and research. Here are some of his important works:

• The Offerings of the Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan (1993).
• Mexico's Indigenous Past, with Alfredo López Austin (1996).
• La Casa de las Águilas (The House of Eagles), 2 vols. (2006).
• Breaking Through Mexico's Past, with Davíd Carrasco and Eduardo Matos Moctezuma (2007).
• Escultura monumental mexica (Monumental Mexica Sculpture), with Eduardo Matos Moctezuma (2009).
• El capitán Guillermo Dupaix y su álbum arqueológico de 1794 (Captain Guillermo Dupaix and his 1794 archaeological album) (2015).
• Arqueología de la arqueología: ensayos sobre los orígenes de la disciplina en México (Archaeology of Archaeology: Essays on the Origins of the Discipline in Mexico) (2017).
• Los muertos viven, los vivos matan: Mictlantecuhtli y el Templo Mayor de Tenochtitlan (The Dead Live, the Living Kill: Mictlantecuhtli and the Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan) (2021).
• Arqueología mexicana: sus orígenes y proyecciones (Mexican Archaeology: Its Origins and Projections), with Eduardo Matos Moctezuma (2024).

See also

In Spanish: Leonardo López Luján para niños