María Ruigomez-Eraso

María is a PhD candidate in Archaeology at the University of Cambridge, specialising in heritage studies, memory politics, and cultural diplomacy. Her doctoral thesis will examine how state actors make use of heritage restitutions to actively recontextualise contested historical figures and reshape collective memory. Through this project, she aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of why state actors engage in acts of atonement beyond cultural diplomacy. Her OOC AHRC DTP studentship is co-funded by Jesus College. María received her MA in Cultural Heritage Studies from Central European University (Vienna) in 2024. Alongside her academic studies, she has gained practical experience as a staff member of the restitution department at Christie's, and the international department at the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, as well as a researcher on European cultural policies at KEA European Affairs. María is originally from Bilbao, Spain, and speaks Spanish, German, English and French.