Kate Franklin

Kate Franklin is a Researcher at the Department of History, Classics & Archaeology, Birkbeck College, University of London. She specializes in Medieval Archaeology, Political Economy, and the study of trade networks along the Silk Road and in Central Asia. Her work integrates landscape archaeology, remote sensing, and cultural heritage management.

• Education: Not explicitly detailed, but inferred from academic output.

Franklin’s research focuses on reconstructing medieval and early modern archaeological landscapes in Armenia and Afghanistan. She examines everyday life, caravan trade infrastructure, and the role of local communities in global exchange networks. Her projects include the Vayots Dzor Silk Road Survey (VDSRS) and the Afghan Heritage Mapping Partnership (AHMP), which use satellite imagery, historical data, and excavation to analyze trade routes, settlements, and cultural interconnectivity.

Her 15 most recent publications span 2014–2021, emphasizing the Silk Road, caravanserai networks, and heritage preservation in conflict zones. Key keywords include Medieval Archaeology, Globalization, and Landscape Studies. Despite no explicit awards listed, her work has garnered significant public and academic attention, with over 14,000 views on Academia.edu.

Franklin’s contributions to archaeological methodologies, particularly through GIS mapping and remote sensing, highlight her interdisciplinary approach. She also plays a role in documenting and safeguarding heritage sites in Syria and Iraq through the ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives.