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Professor D Graham J Shipley is the Professor of Ancient History at the University of Leicester's School of Archaeology and Ancient History since 2002. His research focuses on Hellenistic and Classical antiquity, particularly on political landscapes, environmental studies, and urban planning. He holds a D.Litt. from the University of Oxford (2020) and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2014). Education: Graduated in Classics from Oxford University. Academic roles include serving on the Oxford Classical Texts Committee and the UK Education Honours Committee. Previously chaired the Council of University Classical Departments and convened the Dorothy Buchan Memorial lectures. Research interests emphasize ancient geography, socio-political structures, and environmental interactions. His work spans studies of Sparta, Greek urban planning, and the cultural impact of Hellenistic expansion. Recent publications examine Pseudo-Skylax's geographical texts and post-Alexandrian political dynamics. Scientific Awards: Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2014) D.Litt. (Doctor of Letters) from University of Oxford (2020) Advising and Grants: No specific advisees listed, but supervises research in ancient history and archaeology. Active in collaborative projects such as the Laconia Survey. Grants have supported archaeological fieldwork and publication initiatives. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Oxford Classical Texts Committee and has led interdisciplinary teams in regional archaeological surveys.

• Ancient History
• Hellenistic Studies
• Classical Antiquity
• +5 more

Professor Bert Smith is a distinguished academic at the University of Oxford, serving as a Fellow of Lincoln College. He holds the position of Professor in the Faculty of Classics, with a specialization in Greek Archaeology and Roman Art/Archaeology. His academic journey includes MA, MPhil, and DPhil degrees from Oxford University. Prior to his current role, he was a Harkness Fellow at Princeton University (1983-85) and taught Hellenistic and Roman art at New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts (1986-1995). His research focuses on the art and visual cultures of the ancient Mediterranean, particularly the relationship between visual representation and social/political contexts. As director of the Aphrodisias excavation project since 1991, he has contributed significantly to understanding the archaeology of Greek cities in the Eastern Roman Empire. Key achievements include a British Academy/Philip Leverhulme Fellowship (2007-2008) and leadership in the AHRC-funded 'Last Statues of Antiquity' project (2009-2012), resulting in a collaborative book (2016). Teaching responsibilities include lectures and seminars on Greek and Roman art and archaeology. His publications span over four decades, with notable works on sarcophagi iconography, Aphrodisias excavations, and Hellenistic art. He actively collaborates with institutions like the Oxford Centre for Greek and Roman Antiquity (OCGRA). Current research continues to explore late antiquity art and archaeology through fieldwork and interdisciplinary projects.

• Ancient Art
• Classical Archaeology
• Mediterranean Studies
• +5 more

Professor Jonathan Adams holds a Chair in Archaeology at the University of Southampton's Department of Archaeology. He leads the Centre for Maritime Archaeology (CMA), established in 1997, and teaches at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. His career spans over 30 years, including pivotal roles in the Mary Rose excavation and foundational work in deepwater maritime archaeology. Adams specializes in the Black Sea region, focusing on environmental change impacts on prehistoric populations, maritime connectivity, and naval technology's role in state-building. Affiliations: Centre for Maritime Archaeology, Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute Key Projects: Black Sea Maritime Archaeology Project (since 2015), Ships of State (with Södertörn University) Education: BA in Archaeology & Ancient History (Durham University), DPhil in Maritime Archaeology (Stockholm University). His research integrates ship science, oceanography, and historical analysis. He currently supervises seven PhD students and has mentored over 500 graduates through the MA/MSc in Maritime Archaeology program launched in 1995. Research Interests: Chronology of environmental change in the Black Sea Maritime connectivity across historical periods Role of naval architecture in early modern state development

• Maritime Archaeology
• Environmental Change and Human Populations
• Early Modern State-Building via Naval Technology
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Isobel Hurst is a Lecturer in the Department of English and Creative Writing at Goldsmiths, University of London. Her research specializes in Classical Reception Studies, focusing on the interplay between Greek and Roman literature and 19th-century women's writing. Academic qualifications: D.Phil. (2003), M.Phil. in English Studies (2000), BA in Classics and English (1995) - all from the University of Oxford Her research explores how women writers like Elizabeth Barrett Browning and George Eliot creatively engaged with classical texts to challenge gender norms and societal constraints, particularly through reworkings of Homeric and Virgilian themes. She examines intersections between domesticity and epic traditions, feminist reinterpretations of mythology, and the role of classical education in women's authorship. Recent publications analyze Louise Glück's mythic poetry, Victorian epic traditions, and transatlantic classical dialogues. She supervises PhD students working on topics including Sapphic poetics, prophetic figures in literature, and epic subversions in contemporary forms. Isobel contributes to academic discourse through her involvement with the Decadence Research Centre and Centre for Comparative Literature, bridging classical traditions with modern literary innovations through both teaching and research.

• Classical Reception Studies
• Victorian Literature
• Women's Writing
• +3 more

Caroline Vout is Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge, holding a Fellowship at Christ's College where she serves as Director of Studies for Prelims and Part 1A in Classics. She directs the Museum of Classical Archaeology (MOCA) and co-directs Cambridge Visual Culture. From 2019-2024, she held the Byvanck Chair of Classical Archaeology/Art History at Leiden University. Born in Durham, Vout completed her undergraduate studies at Newnham College, Cambridge, followed by an MA at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, then returned to Newnham for her PhD. Before joining Cambridge in 2006, she taught at London, Bristol, and Nottingham Universities. Vout is a cultural historian and art historian specializing in the Roman imperial period and its reception. Her research explores power dynamics in classical art, erotic representation, and how antiquity has been reinterpreted through history. She examines how classical visual culture functions as both historical evidence and living cultural force, with particular expertise in body representation and political dimensions of reception. Her publication history reveals deep engagement with classical material across centuries - from detailed artifact studies (Peplos Kore, Discobolus) to broad cultural analyses. Recent work connects antiquity with modern contexts including the Olympic Games and Victorian reinterpretations, showing consistent interest in how classical art remains dynamically relevant. As Director of Studies at Christ's College, Vout mentors undergraduate Classics students while her MOCA leadership bridges academic research and public engagement. Her curatorial work, including the upcoming 'Paris 1924: the Art of the Olympics' exhibition with Chris Young, demonstrates commitment to making classical art accessible through innovative programming and digital initiatives like MOCA's video series. Vout's interdisciplinary approach through Cambridge Visual Culture and her editorial roles (Omnibus, Sculpture Journal advisory board) reflect her position at the intersection of traditional classical scholarship and contemporary visual studies, connecting ancient artifacts with modern cultural discourse.

• Roman Imperial History
• Classical Art History
• Reception Studies
• +4 more

Professor Christopher Howgego is a Research Keeper at the Heberden Coin Room of the Ashmolean Museum and a faculty member at Wolfson College, University of Oxford. He holds degrees MA and DPhil (Oxon) and has been affiliated with the Ashmolean since 1988, serving in roles like Acting Keeper and Keeper before his current position. Academic Background: Joined Ashmolean in 1988; extensive curatorial and leadership roles in numismatic projects. Research Keywords: Roman Numismatics, Coin Hoards, Roman Provincial Coinage, Roman History. His research explores how ancient coinage illuminates historical, economic, and cultural dynamics. He has authored seminal works like Ancient History from Coins and co-edited Coinage and Identity in the Roman Provinces . He focuses on Antonine coinage in Roman Egypt and hoarding patterns, contributing to the Roman Provincial Coinage series and digital initiatives like Roman Provincial Coinage Online . Scientific Awards: Bronze Medal of the Norwegian Numismatic Society Silver Medal of the Norwegian Numismatic Society As a teacher, he lectured on Roman Numismatics until 2022 and supervised 19 doctoral and 10 master’s students. He currently welcomes graduate research on Roman hoards. His roles include directing major numismatic projects and serving on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Austrian Archaeological Institute. Labs/Teams: Leads the Roman Provincial Coinage Online and Coin Hoards of the Roman Empire projects, co-founded with Andrew Wilson. Also contributes to Iron Age Coins in Britain and Celtic Coin Index Digital initiatives.

• Numismatics
• Roman History
• Ancient Economic History
• +3 more

Professor Nigel Pollard is a historian and archaeologist at Swansea University's School of Culture and Communication, specializing in the protection of cultural heritage in conflict zones with particular focus on lessons from World War II. His current research applies historical experiences, including the activities of the Allied Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives organization (the 'Monuments Men'), to contemporary cultural property protection policy and practice. His academic journey began with extensive work on Roman history and archaeology, conducting fieldwork in Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Italy and the UK. His monograph Bombing Pompeii: World Heritage and Military Necessity (2020) examines the 1943 bombing damage to Pompeii and its implications for current heritage protection practices. He previously published Soldiers, Cities and Civilians in Roman Syria (2000) and co-authored The Complete Roman Legions (2012) with Joanne Berry. Pollard's research output shows a clear transition from Roman military and archaeological studies to contemporary heritage protection, with his most recent publications focusing on cultural property destruction in conflicts, WWII heritage protection lessons, and the evolution of international legal frameworks for cultural property protection from the 1907 Hague Convention to the 1954 Hague Convention. Board member of UK Blue Shield ('Red Cross for monuments') Member of UK military's Cultural Property Protection Working Group Contributor to training of UK armed forces' Cultural Property Protection Unit Contributor to UK government heritage policy development His teaching focuses on Roman history, art and archaeology, and heritage protection, with modules covering heritage in conflict, Roman imperial history, and cultural heritage policy. He actively supervises PhD and MA students on topics ranging from Roman military studies to modern cultural heritage protection challenges, while continuing to publish extensively in both historical and contemporary heritage protection fields.

• Heritage protection in conflict zones
• Cultural property protection in the Second World War
• Roman history and archaeology
• +4 more

Joan Taylor is a Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities at King's College London. Her interdisciplinary research bridges literature, language, history, and archaeology to examine early Christian texts and Second Temple Judaism within their socio-historical contexts. Her primary research focuses include: New Testament studies with emphasis on historical figures (Jesus, John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene); Dead Sea Scrolls and Qumran archaeology; Alexandrian Judaism including Philo of Alexandria; women's roles in early Christianity; and the archaeology of Christian holy sites across Palestine. Taylor employs a contextualizing methodology that integrates literary analysis with archaeological evidence. Her recent publications reveal consistent engagement with gender studies in religious contexts, historical Jesus research, and archaeological analysis of sacred spaces. Key themes across her 109 research outputs include the interplay between textual traditions and material evidence, particularly regarding women's leadership roles and the spatial organization of ancient religious communities. Iren Levi-Sala Prize (1995) Taylor has secured significant research funding including a Wellcome Research Grant for her pharmacological analysis of Essene practices, a British Academy grant for her Philo commentary, and Leverhulme Trust support for projects on Coptic Apocrypha and 'Babatha’s Sisters'. Her current active project examines social and economic relationships behind early Christian texts using papyrological resources. She has supervised 11 postgraduate students and contributed to public understanding through media engagements including the 'Jesus' Female Disciples' documentary and advising on Fern Britton's Holy Land Journey.

• New Testament Studies
• Early Christian Texts
• Archaeology of Qumran
• +6 more

Professor Michael Fulford CBE FBA is a leading archaeologist at the University of Reading's Department of Archaeology. He specializes in Roman and Iron Age archaeology, particularly through his long-term leadership (1997-present) of the Silchester Roman Town Project, investigating the urban development of Calleva Atrebatum. His work spans fieldwork, digital publication, and interdisciplinary research, including the Silchester Environs Project and collaborations with institutions like the Archaeology Data Service and Cotswold Archaeology. Key projects include the Silchester Insula IX excavation series (1997-2014), yielding five monographs on the site's evolution from an Iron Age oppidum to a Roman city. He has also directed the Nero and Silchester Project (2016-19) and pioneered experimental methods like gamma-ray spectroscopy for urban analysis. His research integrates economic, environmental, and social dimensions of Roman Britain, with a focus on rural settlement patterns, pottery industries, and imperial infrastructure. Fulford's awards include the CBE (2005) for services to archaeology and Fellowship of the British Academy. He collaborates across departments, engaging with History, Classics, and Geography, and advocates for open-access publication through projects like The Rural Settlement of Roman Britain online resource. His work bridges academia and public engagement, shaping understanding of Roman urbanism and its legacy in Britain.

• Roman Archaeology
• Iron Age Studies
• Urban Archaeology
• +3 more

Professor Mary Lewis is a renowned scholar in bioarchaeology and paleopathology at the University of Reading's Department of Archaeology. Her research focuses on child and adolescent skeletal remains, particularly in understanding growth patterns, disease, and health in past populations. She is the author of influential works such as The Bioarchaeology of Children and co-editor of The Archaeology of Disease . Her academic positions include President of the Paleopathology Association (2023–2025) and convenor of courses like AR1MET (Archaeology Today) and AR3S21 (Biological Anthropology). Her research has pioneered methods for diagnosing diseases like leprosy, tuberculosis, and thalassaemia in skeletal remains. Research Interests: Puberty development, urban/industrial health impacts, non-adult osteology. Teaching: Forensic Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Archaeology of Death. Key Projects: Studies on medieval pubertal timing, Roman-era child health, and migration patterns via skeletal analysis. Her students explore diverse topics, including child health in ancient Egypt, industrial-era diets, and the effects of famine/plague on childhood. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and actively supervises over 20 postgraduate researchers.

• Bioarchaeology
• Paleopathology
• Childhood Studies
• +3 more

Professor Jadranka Neralic holds a position at the Croatian Institute of History and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences within the University of Zagreb's Department of Medieval History. Her research focuses on medieval ecclesiastical structures, papal curial operations, and the interplay between church institutions and political power in medieval Croatia and Dalmatia. Her work extensively utilizes Vatican Secret Archives documents to explore topics such as episcopal appointments, apostolic visitations, and canon law applications. Notable studies include analyses of 15th–16th-century diocesan governance in Venetian-ruled Dalmatia and the careers of Croatian clerics within the Roman Curia. Recent publications highlight her expertise in post-Tridentine reforms, medieval diplomatic practices, and the socio-political dimensions of religious institutions. Though no scientific awards are listed, her contributions to medieval ecclesiastical history are significant, with over 20 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Her research often bridges microhistorical case studies—such as judicial trials in Šibenik—with broader trends in church reform and Venetian curial influence. Collaborations include international scholars in European medieval studies, reflecting her engagement with transnational ecclesiastical networks.

• Medieval History
• Ecclesiastical History
• Diplomatics
• +3 more

Professor Leif Isaksen is a leading scholar in Digital Humanities and Ancient History at the University of Exeter, holding a chair in the Department of Classics, Ancient History, Religion and Theology. He also serves as Theme Lead for Humanities, Heritage and the Creative Industries at the Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (IDSAI). With a background in archaeology and a focus on Spatial-temporal representation in humanities Intelligent systems for historical data Digital skills development in arts and humanities , his work bridges classical scholarship and computational innovation. His research includes Pelagios Network projects like Recogito and Peripleo , which revolutionized semantic annotation and geospatial analysis of ancient texts. He directed the Cluny Hill Dig and co-founded initiatives like Hot Source! and DISKAH to democratize digital humanities skills. Key professional roles include: Executive Board Chair of ADHO (2019-2021) Co-Director of Web Science CDT at Southampton Active leadership in CAA, EADH, and ISHMap Scientific honors include fellowships at the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and former affiliations with the Alan Turing Institute and Society of Antiquaries of London . His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and 4: Quality Education .

• Spatial and Temporal Representation in Humanities
• Geospatial Data Modeling
• Digital Humanities
• +7 more

Hugh Kennedy , Professor at SOAS University of London within the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, is a leading scholar in early Islamic history. His research spans political structures, military systems, and cultural transitions in the Islamic world. Fields of Interest : Early Islamic History, Abbasid Caliphate, Sacred Space, Historical Geography, Islamic Law. Research Trends : His work explores the evolution of Islamic political terminology, frontier interactions, and the socioeconomic impacts of Muslim rule. He has published extensively on the Ḥajj, urban development, and manuscript production in the Abbasid era. Supervised Theses : Tanaka (zandaqah), Ye (ʿAbbāsid mysticism), Habib (sacred space), Khatun (trade networks), Manstetten (madrasa origins), Lodhi (hijra law), Webb (Arab origins).

• Early Islamic History
• Abbasid Caliphate
• Political and Military Structures
• +4 more

Michael C. A. Macdonald is a Research Associate at the Khalili Research Centre , Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies , University of Oxford . He is also an Honorary Fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford , and a Fellow of the British Academy . His work centers on the languages, scripts, and inscriptions of ancient Syria, Jordan, and Arabia, with a particular focus on pre-Islamic epigraphy and nomadic cultures. Research Interests: Macdonald's research spans a wide range of disciplines including epigraphy, linguistics, archaeology, and social history. His primary areas of expertise include: Ancient North Arabian scripts (e.g., Safaitic, Nabataean, Dadanitic, Hismaic) Literacy and the use of writing in pre-Islamic Arabia Rock art and iconography of ancient Arabia History of nomadic tribes in the Syro-Arabian desert Domestication and use of camels and equids in antiquity He has led or co-directed several major epigraphic and archaeological projects, including the Online Corpus of the Inscriptions of Ancient North Arabia (OCIANA) and the Badia Epigraphic Survey in Jordan. These initiatives involve extensive fieldwork, digital archiving, and collaborative international research. Scientific Recognition: Among his accolades, Macdonald has been elected Fellow of the British Academy , one of the highest honors in the humanities and social sciences in the UK. Advising and Collaboration: While no specific PhD students are named, Macdonald collaborates closely with scholars such as Professor Ahmad Al-Jallad and has co-directed projects with researchers from Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Jordan. His work has been supported by major grants, including from the UK’s Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) . Labs and Teams: Macdonald is the founder and co-academic director of OCIANA , now based at Ohio State University. He also leads the UK section of the Saudi-British-German Epigraphy and Landscape in the Hinterland of Taymāʾ project.

• Ancient North Arabian languages and scripts
• Nabataean and early Arabic inscriptions
• Pre-Islamic Arabian epigraphy
• +4 more

Dr. Heinrich Härke is a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Reading (2007–2010, reappointed 2014–2017) and a professor at the University of Tübingen since 2010. His work focuses on migrations, ethnogenesis, early medieval burial rituals, and Eurasian nomadic archaeology. He leads international projects like the Dzhankent excavation in Kazakhstan, exploring Silk Road trade networks and urbanization. His research bridges archaeology with historical and interdisciplinary methods, emphasizing collaboration with geophysicists and historians. Key projects include the 2011 Wenner Gren-funded excavation at Dzhankent, challenging traditional narratives of nomadic state formation by revealing 7th-century sedentary origins. His DFG-funded project (2014–2017) investigates the town’s role in transcontinental trade. Collaborations involve Korkyt-Ata State University (Kazakhstan), Russian and German institutions, and British scholars. Publications include studies on Anglo-Saxon burial practices, Silk Road urbanization, and the social analysis of early medieval graves. His work addresses themes like ethnic identity, ritual symbolism, and the interplay between archaeology and politics.

• Migrations and ethnogenesis
• Early medieval burial ritual
• Archaeology of Eurasian nomads
• +3 more