Felipe A Rojas Silva

Felipe A Rojas Silva is an Associate Professor of Archaeology and the Ancient World at Brown University, affiliated with the Joukowsky Institute and Egyptology and Assyriology. His research focuses on the archaeology and history of the eastern Mediterranean, emphasizing the archaeology of memory, ancient scripts, and cross-cultural antiquarian traditions.

Education: PhD in Archaeology from the University of California, Berkeley (2010); MA in Archaeology from Harvard University (2004); MA in Classics from New York University (2002).

Research Interests: Explores how ancient communities interacted with material traces of their past, including studies on Anatolian rock-cut monuments, Roman interactions with pre-classical remains, and the global history of antiquarianism. Key themes include the archaeology of memory, sensory engagements with the past, and the cultural afterlives of ancient monuments.

Recent Work Trends: His publications analyze the re-interpretation of ancient monuments, colonial encounters with material culture, and the role of smell and visual signs in historical consciousness. Collaborations include projects at Petra, Aphrodisias, and Sardis.

Grants and Collaborations: Involved in multidisciplinary projects, such as the study of Petra’s rural landscapes and the analysis of ancient water systems in Anatolia. Co-edited volumes on antiquarianism and rock-cut monuments highlight his focus on cross-cultural comparisons.

Labs/Teams: Active in fieldwork at sites like Umm Huwaiwitat (Petra) and Labraunda (Turkey), emphasizing landscape archaeology and material culture studies.