Leonard Rutgers

Prof. Leonard Rutgers is a Professor of Ancient History and Classical Civilisation at Utrecht University's Faculty of Humanities. He holds the Chair in Late Antiquity and leads the Genetic Legacies Project, an interdisciplinary initiative analyzing Jewish migration to Europe through genetic data. His research spans archaeology, religious studies, and digital humanities, with a focus on migration history, diaspora communities, and population dynamics.

His expertise includes epigraphy, heritage studies, and public engagement, evident in his award-winning books like De klassieke wereld in 52 ontdekkingen (2018) and Israel aan de Tiber (2022). He collaborates globally on projects such as the Villa Torlonia Jewish Catacombs and 3D imaging initiatives. Rutgers also advises the Pontificia Academia Romana di Archeologia and NIAS-Lorentz, promoting interdisciplinary education and research.

Key contributions include groundbreaking work on Jewish-Christian interactions in Late Antiquity, published in Nature and Journal of Archaeological Science. His current projects explore population genetics and digital platforms for historical migration modeling. Awards include the Homerus Prize (2019) and the Dutch Association of Italian Studies Research Prize (2023).