Andrew Wilson

Professor Andrew Wilson is a leading scholar in Roman archaeology and the archaeology of the Roman Empire at the University of Oxford, holding the title of Professor of the Archaeology of the Roman Empire since 2004. He is a Fellow of All Souls College and has held academic roles including University Lecturer in Roman Archaeology and Rome Scholar at The British School at Rome. His research focuses on ancient technology, the Roman economy, urbanism, and settlement patterns, with particular attention to water supply systems and the interplay between technology and society.

• Education: DPhil from the University of Oxford (1993–1997).

His research interests span Roman economic history, urban development, and environmental archaeology, with projects such as the Tunisian-British Utica Project and the EAMENA (Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa) initiative. Key themes include the role of technology in Roman infrastructure, the socio-economic dynamics of trade networks, and the impact of environmental changes on ancient civilizations.

Publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches, combining archaeological evidence with historical and scientific data to explore topics like lead pollution in antiquity, disease patterns, and urban decline in the Byzantine period. His work on the water supply systems of Divona and the urban park at Aphrodisias exemplifies detailed analysis of material culture and spatial organization.

Professor Wilson’s contributions include studies on the Garamantes of the Sahara, Roman military campaigns, and the application of geospatial methods for cultural heritage preservation. His research underscores the importance of understanding long-term human-environment interactions and the resilience of ancient economies under political and ecological pressures.