Lara Fabian

Lara Fabian is an Assistant Professor of Iranian Archaeology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Her research focuses on Iron Age through Sasanian Iran and Southwest Asia, with a particular emphasis on the South Caucasus. She co-directs an Azerbaijani-American fieldwork project in the Lerik region of Azerbaijan, exploring the region's role as a nexus of interaction between Iranian, Mediterranean, and Steppe civilizations. Her work integrates archaeology, historiography, and numismatics to analyze economic systems, mobile pastoralist societies, and imperial formations in antiquity.

Education:

• Ph.D., 2018: University of Pennsylvania, Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean World
• B.A., 2011: Hunter College, City University of New York, Classical Archaeology
• B.F.A., 2006: University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Theatrical Set Design

Research Interests:

Her work bridges material culture analysis with historical and cultural studies, focusing on:

1. Mobile pastoralist-sedentary relationships in ancient Iran
2. Economic history and numismatic practices in the Caucasus
3. Historiography of archaeology in the Russian Empire and post-Soviet Eurasia

Her research employs interdisciplinary methods, including GIS mapping, geospatial analysis, and archival studies.

Publications: Her recent work explores ancient economic systems, coinage use, and imperial interactions across the Caucasus. She has contributed to Handbook of Ancient Afro-Eurasian Economies and Electrum, analyzing topics such as the Arsakid Empire's economic dynamics and South Caucasus trade networks.

Awards: No specific awards mentioned in the provided text.

Labs/Teams: Co-directs the Azerbaijani-American fieldwork project in the Lerik region, collaborating with institutions like the University of Freiburg on projects like the ‘Beyond the Silk Road’ ERC initiative.