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Ali MousaviView profile

Assistant Professor

• Archaeology of Iran
• Achaemenid architecture and epigraphy
• Sasanian empire
• +3 more

Ali Mousavi is Assistant Professor of Iranian Archaeology in UCLA’s Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures and a core faculty member of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. A Berkeley PhD and former fellow of the Smithsonian, Maison de l’Orient and Global Heritage Fund, he has directed excavations and UNESCO World-Heritage projects at Pasargadae, Bam, Susa, Sultaniyeh and Turang Tepe and authored prize-winning volumes Ancient Iran from the Air and Persepolis: Discovery and Afterlife of a World Wonder . Education PhD, Near Eastern Studies (Archaeology), University of California, Berkeley (2005) MA, Archaeology, History and Languages of Old World Civilizations, Université Lyon II, France (1997) BA, Archaeology and Art History of Europe and the East Mediterranean, Université Lyon II, France (1996) Research interests span the archaeology and art history of Iran from the Neolithic to the early-20th century, with particular focus on Achaemenid and Sasanian monumental architecture, ancient irrigation (qanats), landscape archaeology, digital heritage, and the modern historiography of Iranian archaeology. His field projects integrate remote sensing, epigraphy, GIS and conservation science to investigate imperial capitals, rock-cut monuments and water-management systems across the Iranian plateau. Across more than 30 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, Mousavi has re-examined dating criteria for Achaemenid stone monuments, analysed royal inscriptions as visual displays, traced medieval Persian pilgrims’ graffiti at ancient sites, and produced synthetic archaeological surveys of the Sasanian empire and the Central Alborz Iron-Age cultures. The corpus reflects a sustained engagement with primary field data, archival research and critical historiography of 19th- and 20th-century excavations. Selected honours Ehsan Yarshater Book Award (2014) Iranian Ministry of Culture World Book Award (2014) Leon Levy – Shelby White publication grant (2008) UNESCO award for World-Heritage nomination files (2003) Iran Heritage Foundation field-work award (2003) Guitty Azarpay Fellowship, UC Berkeley (2000-2003) IFRI Fellowship, Paris (1998) At UCLA he offers undergraduate courses “Archaeology of Iran” and “Ancient Cities of Iran (4000 BC-AD 1900)” and mentors graduate researchers in the Cotsen Institute. His grants and fellowships from NSF-equivalent European and American agencies underwrite both field seasons and publication of critical archaeological corpora, while his service on Iranian, UNESCO and international heritage boards continues to link scholarly output with heritage-management policy.

Bruce RuskView profile

Associate Professor

• Chinese Cultural History
• Material Culture
• Textual Studies
• +5 more

Bruce Rusk is an Associate Professor in the Department of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia (Faculty of Arts) and serves as the Graduate Advisor. He previously taught at Cornell University for six years before joining UBC in 2012. During the 2012–13 academic year, he was on leave at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and the National Humanities Center in North Carolina. Additionally, he is the webmaster and past president of the Society for Ming Studies, a scholarly organization focused on Ming history and culture. Bruce holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where his dissertation, The Rogue Classicist: Feng Fang (1493–1566) and his Forgeries , examined sixteenth-century classical text forgeries. Following his Ph.D., he was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University from 2004 to 2006. He also earned his B.A. (History Honours) from UBC, which inspired his return to Vancouver to join the scholarly community here. His research focuses on the cultural history of pre-modern and early modern China, particularly the Ming and Qing dynasties. Key interests include authenticity and forgery in textual and material culture, transmission of knowledge, history of philology, writing systems in East Asia, and digital humanities. He collaborates globally on the SSHRC-funded FROGBEAR project, developing an open access repository for East Asian religious studies. Current work explores authentication practices surrounding artifacts like Xuande incense burners and silver ingots, reflecting his broader study of how authenticity and deception were negotiated in late imperial China. Recent publications address intersections between forgery, material culture, and digital methodologies, including co-editing Literary Information in China: A History (2021) and analyzing Ming-Qing literary practices. His work highlights the cultural significance of textual preservation and the sociocultural dynamics of early modern Chinese scholarship. As a leader in academic organizations, Bruce has contributed to the Society for Ming Studies, advancing research in Ming culture through his roles as webmaster and past president. His advising and grants include mentoring UBC graduate students and contributing to the FROGBEAR initiative. His career bridges historical research with digital innovation, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to Asian studies.

Gabrielle KremerView profile

Researcher

• Provincial Roman Archaeology
• Danube Provinces Archaeology
• Gallia Belgica Archaeology
• +4 more

Dr. Gabrielle Kremer is a Senior Research Associate and Guest Researcher at the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW), focusing on provincial Roman archaeology with emphasis on the Danube provinces and Gallia Belgica. She has taught at the University of Vienna since 2001 and coordinates interdisciplinary projects on Roman stone monuments, including the Corpus Signorum Imperii Romani Carnuntum series. Her work bridges epigraphy, sculpture analysis, and funerary architecture studies. Research focuses include: Religious practices in Roman provinces Stone monument provenance and reuse Cultural identity in Noricum and Pannonia Interdisciplinary analysis of Roman material culture Monumental grave architecture in the Treveri region Current projects involve the PolychroMon initiative (2023–2025) analyzing polychromy in Roman monuments and the Accommodation/Living in a Sacred Context study. She co-edited multiple international colloquium proceedings and led the "Religion and Society" working group (2017–2020) at OeAW's Institute for Cultural History of Antiquity.

Elise KleivaneView profile

Associate Professor

• Norse Philology
• Epigraphy
• Runology
• +7 more

Elise Kleivane is an Associate Professor in Written Culture at the Department of Norse and Celtic Philology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oslo. She has served as Head of Teaching at ILN (Institute of Language and Literature) from 2021 to 2024 and maintains an active research and teaching profile in Norse philology and related fields. Dr. Kleivane earned her PhD in Norse Philology from the University of Oslo in autumn 2011, following a Master of Arts in Norse Philology completed in spring 2003. Her academic journey has positioned her as a leading scholar in medieval Scandinavian writing culture. Her research focuses on epigraphy, runology, and medieval literacy, with particular emphasis on the intersection of written and material culture in medieval Norway. Kleivane examines how writing functioned in both public and private spheres, analyzing inscriptions in runes and Roman script as evidence of medieval communication practices. Her work bridges philology, archaeology, and cultural history to reconstruct literacy patterns in pre-modern Scandinavia. Recent projects have explored religious texts, biblical translations, and the role of writing in ecclesiastical contexts. Analysis of her publication record reveals a consistent trajectory through medieval epigraphy and literacy studies. Her work demonstrates increasing sophistication in connecting material evidence with textual analysis, moving from specific inscription studies to broader questions about writing culture. The pattern shows strong engagement with interdisciplinary approaches, combining philological expertise with archaeological and historical methodologies. Her research increasingly addresses questions of religious practice, vernacular literacy, and the transmission of knowledge in medieval Scandinavia. Among her significant appointments, she has been appointed to the Language Council's expert council for standardization and language observation (2023-2026) and to the Sources Commission (2023-2026), serving on the editorial board for the National Archives' scientific publication channels. Dr. Kleivane has secured substantial research funding, most notably leading the Norwegian Research Council-funded project 'Letters between runes and manuscripts' (2017-2021) and participating in the NORDCORP-funded 'Retracing the Reformation' project (2013-2017). She currently contributes to the Riksbanken Jubileumsfond-funded research program 'Modes of Modification' (2018-2025) as a member of its steering committee, where her research focuses on 'Texts in the Open and Out of Sight: Public and Private Communication in Epigraphy.' She teaches across multiple institutions including the University of Oslo and Stockholm University, covering subjects ranging from Norse literature and mythology to runology and medieval manuscript culture. Her teaching reflects her research interests in written culture across the medieval Scandinavian world.

• Hebrew Studies
• Semitic Languages
• Biblical Archaeology
• +3 more

Stanley Arthur Cook (1873–1949) was a distinguished academic and Regius Professor of Hebrew at the University of Cambridge (1932–1938). He held roles as a college lecturer in Hebrew (1904–1932) and Comparative Religion (1912–1920) at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. His academic career included editorial work for the Encyclopaedia Biblica (1896–1903), the Encyclopaedia Britannica on biblical subjects, and the Palestine Exploration Fund (1902–1932). Cook’s research focused on Semitic languages, ancient inscriptions (e.g., Moabite Stone, Palmyrene, Phoenician, and Nabataean), and Palestinian archaeology. His collection includes notebooks from his undergraduate studies (1891–1894) and specialized lecture notes on Semitic languages and archaeology. He collaborated with notable figures like Flinders Petrie. Education: B.A., Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, 1894 M.A., Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, 1899 Research Interests: Hebrew grammar Semitic philology Biblical archaeology Eschatology Contributions: Editored publications of the Palestine Exploration Fund Authored a draft review of Albrecht Alt’s Israel und Aegypten (1909) His legacy includes extensive notes on ancient inscriptions, Mediterranean archaeological sites, and comparative religious studies. Cook died in Cambridge in 1949, survived by his wife Annette Bell (d. 1942).

Eleni BoziaView profile

Associate Professor

• Digital Humanities
• Classical Studies
• AI Applications in Humanities
• +4 more

Eleni Bozia is an Associate Professor of Classics and Digital Humanities at the University of Florida. She leads the Data-Driven Humanities Research Group and serves as Associate Director of the Digital Epigraphy and Archaeology Project, focusing on 3D digitization of cultural heritage and AI integration in humanities. Her research explores linguistic/cultural diversity in Imperial Greek/Latin literature and its intersections with modern globalism. Bozia holds dual doctorates from the University of Florida (2009) in Classical Studies and Universität Leipzig (2018) in Digital Humanities. Her scholarly work bridges classical studies with digital innovation, including computational analysis of ancient texts, virtual reality for experiential learning, and collaborative global preservation initiatives. Recognized with awards from La Fondation Hardt and the American Academy in Rome, her contributions span peer-reviewed articles, edited volumes, and public engagements like TEDx talks. She actively promotes interdisciplinary collaboration through roles in the Florida Digital Humanities Consortium and the Literary Encyclopedia. Bozia’s research portfolio includes groundbreaking books on Lucian’s works, multilingual practices in antiquity, and digital epigraphy. She advocates for reimagining classical pedagogy through technology, emphasizing accessibility and relevance for younger generations. Her lab’s projects like the Digital Rosetta Stone and 3D artifact preservation redefine how ancient knowledge is studied, shared, and experienced in the digital age.

Holger KockelmannView profile

Professor

• Egyptology
• Hieroglyphic and Demotic Epigraphy
• Ancient Egyptian Religion
• +5 more

Holger Kockelmann is a Professor at the University of Leipzig, serving as Director of the Egyptological Institute and Egyptian Museum - Georg Steindorff. He also holds the position of Dean of Studies within the Faculty of History, Arts and Regional Studies. His academic career spans multiple institutions including the University of Bonn, Trier, Tübingen, Würzburg, and Ain Shams University. Education: Magister Artium in Egyptology (1994-2000) from the University of Trier, Master of Studies in Oriental Studies at Oxford (2000-2001), Habilitation at Tübingen (2014) Research Interests focus on hieroglyphic temple inscriptions, hieratic and demotic texts, cultural history of Greco-Roman Egypt, comparative Egyptian religious phenomena, and Egyptian onomastics. He leads the Edition of the Temple Inscriptions of Philae project funded by Gerda Henkel Stiftung since 2021. Article Trends show specialization in Philae temple epigraphy, religious text analysis, and visual-textual discrepancies in temple art. His work spans 2016-2021 with co-authorship on collaborative projects. Notable Memberships: International Association of Egyptologists (since 2010), Egypt Exploration Society (since 2006), ICOM (since 2023) Collaborative Efforts include partnerships with institutions like Fondazione Museo delle Antichità Egizie di Torino, Austrian Academy of Sciences, and projects involving digital humanities (e.g., Digital Rosetta Stone). His work integrates archaeological, philological, and computational approaches to ancient Egyptian studies.

Vincent DebiaisView profile

Research Professor

• Medieval History
• Visual Culture
• Medieval Epigraphy
• +4 more

Vincent Debiais is a CNRS Research Director affiliated with the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) and Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art (INHA) in Paris. He leads the research team 'Anthropologie Historique du Long Moyen Âge' (AHLoMA) at the Centre de Recherches Historiques. Education: PhD in Medieval History, University of Poitiers (2004) Habilitation in History of Medieval Art, University of Poitiers (2015) Research Focus: Debiais investigates intersections of written and visual culture in medieval artifacts, specializing in epigraphy, visual theology, and material practices. His current projects examine representations of silence in sacred imagery and abstraction in medieval artistic traditions, combining anthropological approaches with historical analysis. Publications Analysis: His recent works demonstrate consistent focus on materiality of medieval inscriptions across diverse media (stone, textiles, ivories). Key thematic clusters include liturgical objects, funerary epigraphy, visual silence, and methodological innovations in analyzing medieval graphic practices. Awards: Herbert L. Kessler Prize for Medieval Art History (2022) Research Leadership: He directs the international team 'Arts et Intelligences du Silence' (EHESS, 2020-2024), coordinating interdisciplinary research on silence in humanities through seminars, publications, and resident scholar programs.

Ivan DrpićView profile

Associate Professor

• Byzantine Art
• Medieval Art
• Art and Architecture of Southeastern Europe
• +10 more

Ivan Drpić is an Associate Professor in the Department of the History of Art at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Arts and Sciences. A specialist in Byzantine and medieval art, he focuses on the material culture of Southeastern Europe, particularly the interplay between text, image, and subjectivity from the 11th to 15th centuries. Education: Ph.D., Harvard University, 2011 M.A., Harvard University, 2005 B.A., University of Belgrade, 2002 His research centers on medieval aesthetics, theories of the image, the agency of art objects, and cultural interactions between Byzantium and the Slavic world. He explores how inscriptions, particularly epigrams, function as integral components of artworks, shaping devotional practices and personal identity. His work bridges art history, literary studies, and religious studies. Drpić's recent publications focus on the enkolpion , verse inscriptions, and imperial patronage, revealing deep connections between materiality, selfhood, and piety in Byzantine culture. His scholarship demonstrates a consistent trend toward interdisciplinary analysis of small-scale devotional objects and textual practices. Scientific Awards: Runciman Prize (2017) David E. Finley Fellowship, National Gallery of Art Fellowship, Dumbarton Oaks Research Library NEH Fellowship He has held research fellowships at major institutions, contributing to significant scholarly projects. While no specific grants are listed, his affiliations with Dumbarton Oaks, NEH, and the National Gallery of Art indicate sustained external funding. He advises graduate students and is an active member of the core faculty in the History of Art department. Drpić previously taught at the University of Washington (2011–2017) before joining Penn. He is not part of any named lab or research center, but his independent research projects, such as The Enkolpion: Object and Self in Medieval Byzantium , reflect deep scholarly inquiry into the material and spiritual dimensions of medieval art.

Veluppillai UthayaView profile

Lecturer

• Ancient and Medieval History of South India
• History of Tamil-language Shaivism
• Tamil Devotional Literature
• +4 more

Veluppillai Uthaya serves as a Lecturer in Tamil language and history at the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (INALCO) in Paris, specializing in South Asian studies within the Department of Indian, South Asian and Tibetan Studies. Her academic focus bridges historical research with linguistic instruction, maintaining active engagement in both teaching and research domains. Her research interests center on Ancient and Medieval History of South India, History of Tamil-language Shaivism, and Tamil Devotional Literature, with particular emphasis on medieval Tamil inscriptions and Shaivite textual traditions. Uthaya approaches South Indian society and culture through interdisciplinary lenses combining epigraphy, religious studies, and literary analysis. Her publication record reveals consistent scholarly output spanning two decades, with increasing specialization in Tamil Shaivism and devotional literature. The articles demonstrate methodological diversity ranging from epigraphic analysis to semantic studies of religious terminology, reflecting deep engagement with primary Tamil sources and interdisciplinary approaches to South Asian religious history. Uthaya actively contributes to major international research projects including the ERC-funded DHARMA project on Hindu asceticism, the TST project on Tamil Shaivite manuscripts, and the DELI project on Indian literature. She has coordinated the 'Tamil Worlds' conference series since 2017, organizing significant academic events on Tamil studies in Paris. Her teaching portfolio encompasses comprehensive Tamil language instruction from beginner to advanced levels (L1-M2), premodern literature, Tamil cinema, and civilization courses covering South Indian society, culture, and religion. She also teaches broader South Asian literature and art history within INALCO's curriculum.

Louisa CampbellView profile

Lecturer

• Heritage Materials Science
• Roman Archaeology
• Archaeological Chemistry
• +3 more

Louisa Campbell is a Lecturer in Heritage Materials Science at the University of Glasgow’s School of Humanities, with an Honorary Research Associate role. Her research focuses on innovative methodologies for analyzing Roman and prehistoric material culture, including the use of p-XRF and Raman spectroscopy. She leads interdisciplinary projects involving the Colleges of Arts and Science & Engineering, such as pigment analysis on Roman sculptures and development of non-destructive analytical tools. Her work emphasizes the Antonine Wall’s archaeological significance, particularly through studies of its distance stones’ polychromy and material composition. She collaborates across disciplines to advance heritage science, including contributions to museum exhibitions and educational resources. Key grants include a £100k Lord Kelvin Adam Smith Leadership Fellowship and Historic Environment Scotland funding. Teaching responsibilities include convening the MSc Heritage Materials Science program and undergraduate courses on archaeological theory and Scottish archaeology. She chairs the National Committee for Carved Stones in Scotland and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

Manolis S. PatedakisView profile

Assistant Professor

• Byzantine Philology
• Palaeologan Period Literature
• Medieval Cretan Inscriptions
• +4 more

Manolis S. Patedakis serves as an Assistant Professor of Byzantine Philology in the Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Philology at the University of Crete, with office 106 contactable via telephone (28310-77283) and email (patedakis@uoc.gr). His academic foundation was established at the University of Crete for undergraduate and initial postgraduate studies, culminating in a DPhil from the University of Oxford. His doctoral research centered on Athanasios I Patriarch of Constantinople (1289-1293, 1303-1309), producing a critical edition with commentary of unpublished works. Dr. Patedakis specializes in Palaeologan period literature, Cretan manuscript culture across medieval and early modern eras, and the theological corpus of Symeon the New Theologian. His scholarly methodology integrates textual criticism, epigraphic analysis, and historical contextualization to illuminate Byzantine intellectual traditions. His publication trajectory reveals sustained focus on patriarchal writings, theological controversies, and Cretan cultural identity, with significant contributions to Symeon the New Theologian studies and Byzantine-Latin relations. Recent work extends into modern literary analysis (notably Orhan Pamuk) while maintaining core philological rigor. Prior to his current position, he held a Research Fellowship at Dumbarton Oaks (Trustees for Harvard University) from September 2007 to May 2008, advancing his expertise in Byzantine material culture.

• Archaeology
• Digital Humanities
• Celtic Studies
• +3 more

Dr. Megan Kasten serves as a Research Affiliate in the Department of Archaeology and holds an affiliate position in Celtic & Gaelic at the University of Glasgow. Her institutional affiliation is evidenced through her university email address and ORCID profile linked to glasgow.ac.uk. Her research focuses on the intersection of digital methodologies and early medieval archaeology, particularly specializing in Ogham inscriptions, Scottish carved stones, and digital imaging techniques. Key areas include 3D modeling, Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), and the application of computational methods to archaeological documentation. She investigates how digital media represents archaeological subjects, notably through analyses of Ogham in video games and tabletop RPGs. Dr. Kasten's publication trends reveal a strong emphasis on methodological innovation in archaeology, with recurring themes in Scottish early medieval heritage, Celtic studies, and pandemic-era adaptations of spatial archaeometry. Her work bridges technical digital humanities approaches with traditional archaeological interpretation of Pictish and early medieval material culture. She has contributed to collaborative research through the CAST and SPARC programs, as documented in her 2021 co-authored work on spatial archaeometry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her editorial work on student symposium proceedings demonstrates active engagement with emerging scholars in early medieval archaeology, though no formal advisees are listed in available records. Dr. Kasten maintains research datasets through collaborations like the York Archaeological Trust project (2020), focusing on 3D use-wear analysis of artifacts. Her professional activities center on digital archaeological methods, Celtic epigraphy, and the preservation of Scotland's medieval heritage through technological innovation.

Jessica BarkerView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Medieval Art
• Sculpture
• Funerary Art
• +4 more

Jessica Barker is a Senior Lecturer in Medieval Art History at The Courtauld Institute of Art, specializing in sculpture and funerary art. She holds degrees from the University of Oxford and The Courtauld Institute of Art, where she was a Henry Moore Postdoctoral Fellow. Her research focuses on northern Europe and the Iberian Peninsula, exploring themes like the macabre, gender, materiality, and the body in medieval art. Her major works include *Stone Fidelity: Marriage and Emotion in Medieval Tomb Sculpture* (2020), winner of prestigious awards, and co-edited *Revisiting the Monument* (2016). She has published widely in journals like *Art Bulletin*, *Art History*, and *The Sculpture Journal*. Current projects include co-curating *The Rule: Shaping Lives* (2026) and researching Portuguese *padrões* columns. She advises PhD students on topics like medieval manuscripts, measurement relics, and golden representations of the dead. Awards include the 2021 International Centre of Medieval Art Prize and 2022 Historians of British Art Award. She contributes to initiatives like the Sculptural Processes Group and serves on editorial boards. Her work bridges artistic innovation, material culture, and interdisciplinary approaches to medieval monuments.

Georgios PallisView profile

Associate Professor

• Byzantine Archaeology
• Post-Byzantine Art
• Byzantine Epigraphy
• +2 more

Georgios Pallis is an Associate Professor at the Department of History and Archaeology , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , specializing in Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Archaeology and Art . He earned his doctorate from the same institution and previously served in the Greek Archaeological Service. His research focuses on marble sculpture , epigraphy , and monumental topography of the Byzantine and Ottoman periods in Greece. Active in excavations at Andros (2004–2012) and Palaeopolis (since 2015) Key publications: From Lamia to Zitouni (2020), co-edited Ottoman Monuments in Greece (2023) Current research: Byzantine altars, templon screens, and Ottoman architectural legacies