Jochen Fornasier

Prof. Dr. Jochen Fornasier serves as an Adjunct Professor of Classical Archaeology at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg since July 2023. Previously, he held an Associate Professor position at Goethe University Frankfurt am Main from 2014-2023. His academic career spans over two decades with significant contributions to Classical Archaeology, particularly focusing on Greek colonies in the Black Sea region through extensive fieldwork and research projects.

Education:

• Doctorate in Classical Archaeology, University of Münster (1999)
• Habilitation in Classical Archaeology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (2007)
• Re-habilitation, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main (2010)
• Re-habilitation, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (2022)

Fornasier's research centers on Greek iconography and iconology, Greek colonization processes, ancient representations of women, and mythology. His work particularly emphasizes archaeological investigation of Greek colonies in the northern Black Sea region, with extensive fieldwork at sites like Olbia Pontike and Tanais. His studies reveal complex cultural interactions between Greek settlers and local populations, examining how these colonies developed distinctive hybrid identities while maintaining connections to their mother cities.

Analysis of Fornasier's recent publications shows a consistent focus on urban development in ancient Greek colonies, particularly Olbia Pontike. His work combines traditional archaeological methods with modern spatial analysis to reconstruct the evolution of these ancient cities. Key themes include the relationship between urban centers and their suburbs, the role of religious spaces in urban planning, and cultural interactions between Greeks and local populations in the Black Sea region, demonstrating how these frontier colonies adapted to their specific geographical and cultural contexts.

Scientific Recognition:

• Corresponding Member of the German Archaeological Institute (2024)
• Principal investigator for multiple DFG-funded research projects

Fornasier has directed significant research initiatives including the DFG project 'Ancient Urban Development at the Border of the Greek Oikumene' (2015-2020) and currently leads the DFG project 'A Changing Cityscape. Comprehensive Reconception of the Genesis of Olbia Pontikes for the Archaic and Classical Periods.' His grant funding demonstrates the significance of his research in understanding the spatial organization and development of ancient Greek colonies at the edges of the Greek world.

As leader of the German-Ukrainian archaeological team conducting excavations in Olbia, Ukraine, Fornaiser has established a long-term collaboration with Ukrainian institutions. His research group employs multidisciplinary approaches combining traditional excavation methods with geophysical surveys to reconstruct the urban development of Olbia Pontike across different historical periods, focusing particularly on the relationship between the city center and its suburban areas.