Joanne Murphy

Joanne Murphy is a Professor and Department Head at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, specializing in Mediterranean and Archaeology. Her research focuses on the Greek Bronze Age, including mortuary practices, religious rituals, and archaeological methods.

Education:

• Ph.D., Classics, University of Cincinnati
• M.A., Classics, University of Cincinnati
• M.A., University College Dublin, Ireland
• B.A. (Honors), University College Dublin, Ireland

Dr. Murphy's work explores the interplay between social hierarchy, funerary customs, and religious practices in the Aegean Bronze Age. She integrates traditional archaeology with bioarchaeological and interdisciplinary approaches to analyze mortuary systems, palace structures, and state rituals.

Her recent publications emphasize methodological innovations in surface surveying and the socio-political dynamics of Archaic States. She has co-authored studies on health inequalities in Mycenaean Greece and the symbolic role of ancestors in Aegean Bronze Age societies.

Scientific Awards & Honors:

• Junior Research Excellence Award, UNCG (2020)
• Senior Teaching Excellence Award, College of Arts and Sciences, UNCG (2020)
• Gladys Strawn Bullard Award for Outstanding Service, UNCG (2020)
• Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Grant for Interdisciplinary Humanities (2018)
• NEH Fellowship at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (2015)

She directs the Kea Archaeological Research Survey (KARS) since 2011, focusing on the efficacy of surface survey techniques. Her teaching includes courses on archaeological theory, field methods, and ancient civilizations.