Alison Gascoigne

Professor Alison Gascoigne serves as Head of Department in the Department of Archaeology within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Southampton. A specialist in Egyptian archaeology with particular expertise in the Islamic world, she directs significant fieldwork projects and supervises multiple PhD students while maintaining an active research profile.

Her research interests focus on the archaeology of the Islamic world, archaeological ceramics, and Medieval Egyptian urbanism. Gascoigne examines urban development patterns from late antiquity through the medieval period, with particular attention to ceramic production systems and environmental interactions. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges archaeology, environmental science, and historical studies to understand societal transformations.

Recent publications reveal strong trends in urban archaeology (particularly Fustat and Tinnis), climate-archaeology intersections, and ceramic analysis. Her work increasingly integrates paleoclimatic data with archaeological evidence to explore societal resilience during environmental change, while maintaining deep engagement with Islamic-era material culture across Egypt and the Near East.

Her scientific recognition includes prestigious British Academy fellowships:

• British Academy Reckitt Travelling Fellowship in Archaeology
• British Academy Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Gascoigne actively supervises doctoral research and has secured significant funding from the British Academy, Fondation Max Van Berchem, and The Barakat Trust for projects including the Tell Tinnis survey and educational material development. Her external engagements include editorial review for Iran and Journal of Islamic Archaeology, chairing Arts & Humanities Research Council panels, and presenting invited lectures internationally on topics ranging from pottery production to urban water systems in medieval Egypt.

She leads research groups including the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Culture, Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute, and Coastal Communities Ocean Justice initiatives, directing collaborative interdisciplinary work that bridges archaeological practice with contemporary environmental concerns.