Find Academic Supervisors

• Assyriology
• Elamite Language and Culture
• Achaemenid Studies
• +5 more

Gian Pietro Basello is an Associate Professor of Assyriology (L-OR/03) at the University of Naples 'L'Orientale' since December 2020, affiliated with the Department of Asia, Africa and Mediterranean. His academic career includes previous positions as a fixed-term researcher (2017-2020) and multiple contract teaching positions at the University of Bologna. Basello holds a Laurea in Storia Orientale from the University of Bologna (1993-2000) and a PhD in Ancient Near East Studies from the University of Naples 'L'Orientale' (2001-2005). He has received national qualifications (Abilitazione Nazionale) for both Associate Professor (2014-2020, 2018-2024) and Full Professor (2023-2034) positions in sector 10/N1 (Cultures of the Ancient Near East, Middle East and Africa). His research focuses on Elamite language, culture, and history, with particular emphasis on Achaemenid studies, ancient Western Asia, and cuneiform documentation. Basello has conducted extensive work on Elamite calendars, royal inscriptions, administrative texts, and the relationship between Elamite and Persian cultures during the Achaemenid period. His methodological approach combines philological analysis with archaeological evidence to reconstruct ancient Near Eastern societies. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on Elamite language documentation, Achaemenid administration, and material culture studies. The research trends show increasing attention to digital approaches in epigraphy, comparative analysis of administrative systems across ancient Near Eastern cultures, and interdisciplinary studies combining linguistic, archaeological, and historical perspectives. His work spans from the Bronze Age Elamite civilization through the Achaemenid period, with particular attention to cultural continuity and transformation. National qualification for Associate Professor position (sector 10/N1), 2014-2020 National qualification for Associate Professor position (sector 10/N1), 2018-2024 National qualification for Full Professor position (sector 10/N1), 2023-2034 Basello has supervised numerous master's and doctoral theses at universities including Naples 'L'Orientale,' Bologna, Tehran, and Sydney, primarily in philological and archaeological fields related to Elam and Achaemenid Iran. He serves as a peer reviewer for prestigious journals including Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient, and Iranica Antiqua. His research is supported through significant projects including the DARIOSH project on Achaemenid royal inscriptions and the PRIN 2020 project on Iranian and non-Iranian language contacts. As supervisor, he oversees the MSCA-IF project 'Villages to Empire: 4000 Years of Death and Society in Elam.' Basello is an active member of the DARIOSH project (Digital Achaemenid Royal Inscription Open Schema Hypertext) as an Elamite and Babylonian specialist, collaborating with institutions including ISMEO, the Louvre, the National Museum of Iran, and the Parsa-Pasargadae Research Foundation. He also participates in the Italian Ethnolinguistic Mission in Tajikistan and serves on the doctoral committee for the 'Asia, Africa and Mediterranean' program at the University of Naples 'L'Orientale'.

Elena Luise HertelView profile

Researcher

• Ancient Egyptian Writing Systems
• Materiality of Texts
• Egyptian Cursive Scripts
• +3 more

Dr. Elena Luise Hertel is an affiliated researcher at the University of Hamburg’s Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (CSMC). She holds a PhD in Egyptology from the University of Basel (2024) and specializes in ancient Egyptian cursive scripts (Hieratic, Abnormal Hieratic, Demotic), focusing on materiality, writing across media, and cultural change during Egypt’s Late Bronze and Iron Ages. Her current project, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, investigates the use of cursive script on stelae during the Third Intermediate Period. She also serves as Principal Investigator for this project (2025–2027). During her Petra Kappert Fellowship (Oct 2024–Mar 2025), she prepared interdisciplinary collaborations, finalized publications, and established technical frameworks for 3D scanning of stelae inscriptions. Education: PhD in Egyptology, University of Basel (2024); studies in Egyptology in Germany and the Netherlands. Research Focus: Materiality of writing, cultural transitions in ancient Egypt, and stelae inscriptions. Her work bridges archaeological and textual analysis, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to manuscript cultures. Projects & Labs: Leading a project on stelae inscriptions, integrating digital technologies like 3D scanning. Collaborates with scholars across disciplines at CSMC to explore script use beyond traditional media contexts.

Brett KaufmanView profile

Associate Professor

• Ancient Mediterranean Studies
• Archaeology
• Metallurgy
• +3 more

Brett Kaufman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with additional affiliations in Anthropology, Materials Research Lab, School of Art and Design, and Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies. His research focuses on the archaeology, history, and metallurgy of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East, emphasizing the interplay between technology, environment, and society. He holds a BA from Brandeis University and MA/PhD from UCLA, with postdoctoral experience at Brown University and faculty roles at University of Science and Technology Beijing. Key research interests include ancient metallurgical practices, sustainability, and the political economy of Carthage. He has directed excavations in Tunisia, China, Italy, Israel, and New York, emphasizing the fusion of archaeological evidence with historical texts and inscriptions. His work bridges archaeology with engineering design, examining how cultural contexts shape technological innovation. Recent publications highlight studies on Neo-Punic burial practices, ancient Chinese bronze metallurgy, and the environmental impacts of industrial activities in antiquity. His advocacy for academic freedom and against misinformation in higher education underscores his commitment to ethical scholarship. Grants from NSF, National Geographic, and others support his interdisciplinary projects.

• Near Eastern Archaeology
• Assyriology
• Cylinder Seals
• +3 more

Felix Blocher is a Professor of Near Eastern Archaeology at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. His career spans institutions including Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, and significant excavation projects in Syria. Key affiliations include the German Oriental Society (Deutsche Orient-Gesellschaft), where he served as Deputy Secretary (1988-1994) and Secretary (2003-2015), and collaborative work with the Reiss Museum Mannheim. Born: 1956 in Basel, Switzerland Education: Doctorate (1985) and Habilitation (1995) in Near Eastern Archaeology Research Focus: Cylinder seals, Mesopotamian-Syrian cultural interactions, religious iconography, and Bronze Age stratigraphy. His work bridges epigraphic analysis with material culture studies, particularly in ancient Syria. Publications: Over 30 works including catalogues of Old Babylonian seal rolls, studies on Euphrates Valley stratigraphy, and reviews of key archaeological texts. His articles highlight interdisciplinary approaches combining art history and administrative archaeology. Scientific Contributions: DFG Postdoctoral Fellowship (1986-1989) Co-editor of Mitteilungen der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft (1988-1993, 2003-2014) Fieldwork: Deputy Director (1998-2010) and Editor (2000-2015) of Tall Munbaqa/Ekalte excavations in Syria, contributing to Late Bronze Age chronology.

Christophe FlamentView profile

Researcher

• Ancient History
• Classical Archaeology
• Numismatics
• +5 more

Christophe Flament is a senior researcher at the Université Catholique de Louvain's Faculty of Arts, specializing in ancient history, numismatics, and economic epigraphy. His work connects classical studies with computational methods through the PHOENIX project. Active in research since 1992 Specializes in Classical and Hellenistic Greece Focuses on mining adjudication and economic systems His research spans Athenian economic history, numismatic analysis of Greek coinage, and interdisciplinary approaches combining physics with computational intelligence. He actively participates in academic collaborations across Europe and Asia. Recent work examines mining practices in Classical Greece, illustrating intersections between economic theory and archaeological evidence. His projects analyze monetary systems' role in wartime economies and educational materials' portrayal of Roman conquests. Recipient of multiple competitive fellowships Member of Royal Belgian Society of Numismatics Published extensively in peer-reviewed journals Collaborates with international research teams Contributes to academic conferences and symposia

Sophie PreiswerkView profile

Researcher

• Classical Archaeology
• Greek Archaic Period
• Material Culture
• +3 more

Sophie Preiswerk is a Researcher and doctoral student at the Institute of Archaeology, Department of Classical Archaeology, within the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Zurich. She has held this position since September 2023, conducting dissertation research titled "The Meaning of Making. The Craftsman and His Artifact in 6th and 5th Century BC Greece" under primary supervision by Prof. Dr. Corinna Reinhardt and co-supervision by Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Dietrich from Heidelberg University. Her academic credentials include a Master's degree in Classical Archaeology from Heidelberg University (2019-2023), where she served as a tutor and completed her thesis "Inscribed Bodies, Legible Artifacts: Writing on Anthropomorphic Sculpture of the Greek Archaic Period" under Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Dietrich and Prof. Dr. Caterina Maderna. She earned her Bachelor's degree in History and Classical Archaeology from the same institution (2016-2019), featuring an ERASMUS semester at Sorbonne University (2018) and a thesis analyzing Napoleonic medal iconography. Additional training includes a Visiting Graduate Student placement at Yale University's Classics Department (2022-2023) under Prof. Dr. Milette Gaifman. Preiswerk's research centers on materiality and craftsmanship in Greek Archaic artifacts, examining how the production process imbues objects with cultural meaning. Her doctoral project challenges traditional art-historical views by treating artifacts as tangible records of maker-material negotiation, utilizing social anthropological frameworks and the concept of 'technological choices' to reinterpret Archaic Greek objects. She actively investigates visual culture, numismatic reception, and the philosophical dimensions of making, with particular focus on 6th-5th century BCE Greece. Her publication record reveals strong interdisciplinary integration across classical archaeology, numismatics, and material culture studies. Recent works consistently bridge technical artifact analysis with broader historical narratives, exemplified by studies on Archaic bronze statuettes' aesthetics and Napoleonic medal iconography as vehicles for classical reception. This approach demonstrates growing scholarly emphasis on process-oriented interpretations of ancient objects. Key scientific recognition includes: DAAD Isap scholarship (2022-2023) supporting her Yale University research residency Baden-Württemberg Exchange Program fellowship (2022-2023) for graduate studies at Yale Preiswerk maintains robust science communication engagement through lectures at Heidelberg University's Academic Lunch Break and Archaeology Slam events, contributions to the German Archaeological Institute's blog and Landesmuseum Württemberg's digital platforms, and development of educational content for the NumiScience eLearning initiative. She will teach a seminar on Greek archaeological source studies at the University of Zurich starting September 2025. Collaborative engagements include the NumiScience platform with the Numismatic Association of Baden-Württemberg and participation in the "Faces of Power" workshop organized by the Royal Netherlands Institute Rome and German Archaeological Institute, focusing on coinage as historical evidence across Roman and Early Modern periods.

• Classical Archaeology
• Roman Archaeology
• Epigraphy
• +2 more

Melinda Szabó is a Lecturer at the Department of Classical and Roman Archaeology within the Institute of Archaeological Sciences at Eötvös Loránd University . Research Focus: Roman provincial archaeology, epigraphy, and socio-economic structures of Pannonia. Key Projects: Excavations at Brigetio and Ad Mures , analysis of altar inscriptions from Poetovio. Publications: Specializes in Roman military infrastructure, trade networks, and social status differentiation in settlements like Scarbantia and Brigetio. Her recent works (2020-2024) explore Roman frontier fortifications , epigraphic evidence , and economic practices in Pannonia, with a particular focus on legionary bath complexes and merchant classes .

Imre GalambosView profile

Professor

• Chinese Manuscript Studies
• Buddhist Texts
• Early Chinese Writing Systems
• +3 more

Professor Imre Galambos is a leading scholar in Chinese Studies, affiliated with the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on Chinese manuscript culture, early Buddhist texts, and the material history of writing systems. He has held fellowships at the Center for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (CSMC) in Hamburg and contributed to projects like the SFB 950 ‘Manuscript Cultures in Asia, Africa and Europe’. His work bridges codicology, paleography, and cultural history, with notable publications on Dunhuang manuscripts and Tangut culture. Key projects include analyzing early Buddhist scrolls and codicological methods for dating undated manuscripts. His expertise spans medieval Chinese history, Sino-Tibetan relations, and the transmission of knowledge through material texts. Research Interests: Medieval Chinese manuscript culture Early Buddhist textual transmission Writing systems of early China and the Tangut empire Codicology and material analysis of scrolls Recent Work: Professor Galambos has emphasized the codicological study of early Chinese Buddhist manuscripts, exploring their role in the evolution of East Asian book forms. His 2020 book Dunhuang Manuscript Culture remains a landmark in the field. He collaborates internationally, leveraging interdisciplinary methods to decode the material and cultural dimensions of ancient texts.

H. BlumView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Ancient History
• Anatolian Studies
• Historical Geography
• +7 more

H. Blum is a Senior Lecturer in Ancient History at the Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, University of Tübingen, where he has been serving since 2002. He also holds the senior academic staff position of Akademischer Oberrat since 2009, reflecting his long-standing contribution to teaching and research. Research Interests: His scholarly work focuses on ancient Anatolia, cultural interactions in the eastern Mediterranean, historical geography—particularly of Lycia—Homeric studies, Luwian presence in Greek epic, ancient epigraphy, and early Christian church organization. He has made significant contributions to understanding cultural continuity and exchange between Anatolia and its neighbors from the Neolithic to the Roman period. Publication Trends: His recent publications reflect an interdisciplinary approach, combining historical geography with archaeological and quaternary science methodologies. Earlier works emphasize textual analysis of hagiography, Homeric epics, and symbolic material culture such as purple dye. His research demonstrates a consistent focus on Anatolia's role in broader Mediterranean cultural dynamics. Scientific Awards: No specific awards mentioned in the provided text. Advising and Grants: While no direct mention of advised students or specific grants is made, his role as Senior Lecturer and his involvement in research training groups and collaborative projects suggest active participation in mentoring and funded research. He was part of a research training group on 'Anatolia and her neighbors' and has co-edited volumes with colleagues, indicating collaborative academic leadership. Labs and Teams: He was affiliated with the research training group 'Anatolia and her neighbors – cultural interactions and development of civilization from the Neolithic Age to the Roman Empire' and has collaborated with scholars such as Betina Faist, Peter Pfälzner, and Anne Wittke. His work is embedded within the Institute of Ancient History at Tübingen, contributing to its strong tradition in Anatolian and classical studies.

Maciej MünnichView profile

Professor

• Ancient History
• Biblical Archaeology
• Ugaritic Studies
• +5 more

Dr. hab. Maciej Münnich, prof. KUL is a Professor at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin , affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities and the Department of Ancient, Byzantine and Medieval History . His academic work bridges ancient Near Eastern studies and contemporary Middle Eastern political analysis. Academic Leadership: Editor-in-Chief of Scripta Biblica et Orientalia (2009-2024), organizer of 17 national conferences, and manager of multiple NCN/MNISw-funded projects. Research Trajectory: Specializes in Ugaritic rituals, biblical archaeology, and modern security dynamics of the Middle East, with a focus on Saudi Arabia and non-state actors. Publications demonstrate interdisciplinary expertise: peer-reviewed books on Ugaritic texts (2024), journal articles analyzing ancient divination (2023) and political reforms (2019), and conference contributions on topics from Mesopotamian homosexuality (2021) to contemporary geopolitical challenges (2025). His Resheph - god of the ancient Orient (2011) and Czy istniało królestwo Dawida? (2014) have become reference works. Scientific Recognition : 2011: Inner Reward 4th Degree Individual Award 2008: European Association of Biblical Studies member Public Engagement: Regular contributor to Defence24 and Gość Niedzielny , with popular science articles on topics like Aleppo's destruction (2016) and Iron Age agriculture (2011). Organized 9th Lublin Science Festival (2011) and participated in radio interviews on ancient history.

• Chinese paleography
• Chinese epigraphy
• Chinese writing system
• +7 more

Chrystelle Marechal is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) working at the Center for Linguistic Research on East Asia (CRLAO), a joint research unit of École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), CNRS, and Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (INALCO). She is based at the Condorcet Campus in Aubervilliers, France, where she conducts research on ancient Chinese writing systems and teaches seminars on oracle bone inscriptions. Dr. Marechal specializes in the study of Chinese paleography and epigraphy, with particular focus on oracle bone inscriptions from the Shang dynasty (13th-11th centuries BCE). Her research examines the evolution of Chinese characters, semantic-graphic etymology, and the historical development of Chinese writing through the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) to the present day. She investigates how cultural and historical contexts shaped Chinese character formation, with specific attention to graphic variants and the process of character simplification over millennia. Her publications reveal consistent research trajectories examining the relationship between graphic forms and cultural meaning in ancient Chinese writing. She has made significant contributions to deciphering oracle bone inscriptions, particularly on ritual activities, hunting, and warfare themes. Her work bridges linguistic analysis with historical and archaeological evidence to provide comprehensive insights into early Chinese civilization, with particular attention to how writing reflected social structures and belief systems. Dr. Marechal is an active teacher who regularly offers seminars on reading Shang dynasty inscriptions on bones and shells, making this specialized knowledge accessible to students without Chinese language prerequisites. Her 2021 French adaptation of 'Initiation to Reading Inscriptions on Bones and Shells from the Shang Dynasty' has become an important pedagogical resource in the field. She serves as a member of the IV research team 'Chinese writing, classification, and cognition' at CRLAO, collaborating with international scholars on East Asian linguistics research.

Julie LundView profile

Professor

• Viking Age Archaeology
• Medieval Archaeology
• Historical Archaeology
• +7 more

Julie Lund is a Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oslo's Institute of Archaeology, Conservation and History (IAKH) within the Faculty of Humanities. She specializes in the Late Iron Age, Viking Age, and Middle Ages of Scandinavia, employing historical archaeological methods that explore the interplay between material culture and Old Norse written sources. Her academic journey began with undergraduate studies at Lund University, continued with a Mag.art. at Copenhagen University, and culminated in a Ph.D. from the University of Oslo in 2009. Ph.D. in Archaeology, University of Oslo (2009) Mag.art. in Prehistoric Archaeology, Copenhagen University (2004) Undergraduate studies in Medieval Archaeology, Lund University (2001) Lund's research focuses on fundamental ontological aspects of Scandinavian societies during the transition from Pagan to Christian eras, examining changes in mentalities, world-views, concepts of personhood, and ideas of corporality. She investigates how people related to the past through landscape analyses, grave studies (including grave yard locations and heirloom usage), burial customs (particularly wholeness versus fragmentation), artifact deposition practices, and runestone inscriptions from approximately 700-1150 AD. Her work consistently bridges archaeological evidence with historical sources, creating a rich interdisciplinary approach to understanding cognitive landscapes of the Viking Age. Analysis of Lund's publication record reveals a sophisticated trajectory from concrete archaeological investigations toward increasingly theoretical frameworks. While her early work focused on specific material evidence like wetland depositions and weapon finds, her recent publications engage deeply with philosophical concepts of personhood, ontology, and the agency of objects. A consistent thread throughout her career is the examination of how material culture reflects and shapes cognitive frameworks, particularly during periods of religious and cultural transformation in Scandinavian history. Project leader on 'Using the Past in the Past. Viking Age Scandinavia as a Renaissance?' funded by the Research Council of Norway as Young Researcher Talent (2016-2020) Lund actively supervises bachelor's and master's theses in archaeology, guiding the next generation of scholars through courses like ARK3090 (Bachelor Thesis in Archaeology) and ARK4090 (Master Thesis in Archaeology). Her research has been supported by significant grants, most notably the Young Researcher Talent award from the Research Council of Norway, demonstrating the importance of her work in advancing archaeological theory and methodology. Professor Lund is affiliated with research groups focusing on Materialities – past and present, and the Center for Viking Age Studies (ViS), where she collaborates with interdisciplinary teams exploring the theoretical and practical dimensions of material culture across time periods.

Lyndelle WebsterView profile

Researcher

• Archaeometry
• Radiocarbon Dating
• Soil Micromorphology
• +3 more

Dr. Lyndelle Webster is a postdoctoral researcher at the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW), affiliated with the research groups "Prehistoric Phenomena" and "Archaeology of the Levant". Holding degrees in Physics (BSc, Australian National University), Engineering (BEng, University of Melbourne), and Archaeology (MA, MRes, PhD, Macquarie University; PhD, University of Vienna), she specializes in archaeometry with particular expertise in radiocarbon dating and soil micromorphology. BSc in Physics (Australian National University, 2005) BEng (University of Melbourne, 2007) MA and MRes in Archaeology (Macquarie University) PhD in Archaeology (University of Vienna and Macquarie University, 2021) Her groundbreaking research includes developing radiocarbon-based site chronologies using Bayesian modeling, with a focus on resolving long-standing chronological debates in the southern Levant. She pioneered the first comprehensive 14C analysis of Late Bronze Age chronology in this region and has conducted innovative work on radiocarbon dating of challenging materials like plaster and ceramics. Her Post-DocTrack fellowship supported a pilot study on direct radiocarbon dating of Egyptian-style pottery. Current research centers on integrating microscale techniques (soil micromorphology, radiocarbon dating) to investigate archaeological deposits, particularly in settlement archaeology. The FWF-funded Esprit project (2023-) applies this approach to Early Neolithic settlements along the Vardar-Morava River corridor in Serbia and North Macedonia. Her work contributes to understanding ancient water systems and the archaeology of the Levant during the Bronze and Iron Ages. Scientific contributions include: Post-DocTrack fellowship recipient Collaborative work across Eastern Mediterranean and Balkan regions Development of radiocarbon dating methodologies for difficult materials Integration of microscale techniques in settlement archaeology Lyndelle has contributed to numerous excavation projects, working with international teams to resolve chronological questions through archaeometric analysis. Her publications span prestigious journals including PLoS ONE, Radiocarbon, and Antiquity, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach combining archaeology with natural sciences.

• Egyptology
• Archaeology
• Ancient Egyptian Civilization
• +4 more

Dr. E. Christiana Köhler is a Professor and Head of the Department of Egyptology at the University of Vienna, specializing in Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egyptian archaeology, material culture, and state formation processes. She teaches courses on Ancient Egyptian civilization, archaeology, and nutrition/environmental studies in the Nile Valley. Focus on Abydos and Helwan excavation sites Expertise in ceramic analysis and chronological studies Engaged in fieldwork and laboratory research Her research explores funerary practices, social complexity, and the role of material culture in Early Egypt. She leads the University of Vienna Middle Egypt Project, emphasizing multidisciplinary methodologies. Recent publications analyze Meret-Neith's tomb, chert mining in Wadi el-Sheikh, and ceramic residue studies, reflecting her interest in technological and ideological developments during state formation. Collaborates with international teams and contributes to academic discourse through conference organization and edited volumes.

Andreas FulsView profile

Researcher

• Historical Cartography
• Archaeoastronomy
• Epigraphy
• +3 more

Dr. Andreas Fuls is a Researcher at the Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformation Science at TU Berlin, specializing in historical cartography, archaeoastronomy, and ancient writing systems. He earned his doctorate in History of Natural Sciences from the University of Hamburg (2007) and has worked at TU Berlin since 1988. His research includes analysis of Ptolemy's world map, astronomical dating of Maya culture, and decipherment of ancient scripts like Indus Valley and Cretan Hieroglyphics. He has developed computational methods for analyzing archaeological inscriptions and reconstructing historical maps. Fuls received scientific awards including Jugend forscht prizes and maintains research websites on epigraphy and archaeoastronomy.