Yasmina Wicks

Dr Yasmina Wicks is a postdoctoral research fellow (MQRF) at Macquarie University's Department of Ancient History within the School of Humanities. She specializes in the ancient Near Eastern civilization of Elam (ca. 4200-525 BCE) located broadly in today's southwest Iran. She also holds the position of Honorary Associate at the University of Sydney.

Dr Wicks' research focuses on Elamite civilization with particular emphasis on mortuary practices, the Neo-Elamite period, and cultural interactions between Elam and neighboring civilizations. Her work examines burial sites, funerary objects, and the social implications of death rituals in ancient Iran. She has developed expertise in comparative analysis of funerary practices across Babylonian, Assyrian, and Elamite cultures.

Her publication record shows 39 research outputs between 2015 and 2025, including influential monographs and collaborative scholarly works that have shaped contemporary understanding of Elamite civilization. Dr Wicks' research demonstrates consistent scholarly output with significant contributions to understanding the transition from Elamite to Achaemenid Persian culture.

Notable scientific achievements include:

• University Medal from the University of Sydney
• Endeavour Research Fellowship from the Australian Government (2014)
• International Committee Membership for Abstracta Iranica since 2018

Dr Wicks has received research funding supporting collaborative work with institutions across Europe including the University of Naples 'L'Orientale', Sapienza Università di Roma, and Université catholique de Louvain. Her research on 'Children and the Social Construction of Childhood in Elam' demonstrates expanding research interests beyond traditional archaeological focuses into social history.