Ulf R Hansson

Ulf R Hansson is a Research Fellow in the Classics Department at the University of Texas at Austin and Director of the Swedish Institute of Classical Studies in Rome. Holding a PhD from the University of Gothenburg (2005), he is a classical archaeologist and cultural historian specializing in Etruscan and early Roman art and archaeology, the history of antiquarianism and archaeology, and the history of collecting and collections.

His research interests span Etruscan art, engraved gems, early modern reception of classical culture, and the intellectual networks of 18th-century Europe. Hansson is particularly known for his work on Baron Philipp von Stosch (1691-1757), a German antiquarian and collector, and Adolf Furtwängler (1853-1907), a German classical archaeologist.

Hansson's recent publications focus on the intersection of collecting practices, intellectual history, and cultural networks in early modern Europe. His scholarly output demonstrates a consistent interest in how knowledge about antiquity was produced, circulated, and contested through material objects, visual documentation, and social networks. He has published extensively on engraved gems, antiquarian networks, and the history of archaeological methodology.

Among his notable scientific contributions are several book projects examining the work of key figures in the history of archaeology and collecting, with particular attention to how personal networks and social contexts shaped scholarly production. His work has been supported by organizations including the Swedish Research Council.

Hansson has been actively involved in academic communities, having served on the admin board of the Histories of Archaeology Research Network (HARN) and co-organizing its annual conferences from 2013-2019. His current research projects include comprehensive studies of Stosch's life and work, Furtwängler's methodological contributions, and the documentation of gem cast collections at UT Austin.