Hilary Becker

Hilary Becker is an Associate Professor and Undergraduate Director in the Department of Middle Eastern and Ancient Mediterranean Studies at Binghamton University. Her research spans Etruscan, Roman, and Greek art/archaeology, with specialized interests in pigment trade, ancient economy, warfare, and epigraphy.

• Educational Background: MA in Classical Archaeology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Advisor: Nicola Terrenato

Research Themes:

• Systematic analysis of Roman pigment trade networks and economic implications
• Epigraphic studies of Etruscan and Latin inscriptions
• Comparative studies of ancient and modern pigment technologies
• Economic systems in Etruria and Rome (450-89 BC)

Key Contributions include interdisciplinary course development (Materials Matter), chemical analysis of ancient pigments, and collaborative studies on Roman-Egyptian color technologies. Her work reveals commercial conventions, price hierarchies, and sensory quality assessment methods in antiquity.