Lise Saussus

Lise Saussus is a Lecturer at École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in Paris, affiliated with the Centre de Recherches Historiques (CRH) and working within the AHLoMA research team (Historical Anthropology of the Long Middle Ages). She holds her office at AHLoMA (Office A 04-03) at 54, boulevard Raspail, 75006 Paris.

Dr. Saussus completed her doctoral thesis in 2017 at UCLouvain on copper metallurgy in medieval Flanders, which established the foundation for her research on socio-professional relationships of metal craftsmen, object status, production frameworks, and material supply chains in medieval and modern workshops. Her academic journey has led to significant scholarly contributions including three major monographs and numerous peer-reviewed publications.

Her research interests span medieval archaeology, history of technology, material culture, metallurgy, and the history of consumption and trade. She specializes in the study of non-ferrous metals in Northwestern Europe during the medieval period, examining trajectories of objects (including second-hand markets), resource management, production techniques, economic aspects, and spatial organization of work. Her methodological approach is distinctly interdisciplinary, integrating archaeological evidence, textual analysis, experimental archaeology, and materials science in dialogue with anthropological perspectives.

An analysis of Dr. Saussus's recent publications reveals a consistent scholarly trajectory focused on medieval metalworking practices, particularly copper and its alloys. Her work demonstrates increasing sophistication in combining material analysis with historical context, moving from site-specific studies to broader regional analyses of metal production and circulation. She has developed expertise in interpreting workshop remains, metallurgical techniques, and the social dimensions of craftsmanship, with particular attention to how material constraints shaped production choices and object trajectories.

• Jean-Jacques Comhaire Prize from the King Baudouin Foundation (2023)
• AFHé BNP Paribas Economic History Thesis Prize from the French Economic History Association (2019)
• Pro Civitate History Thesis Prize from the Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts of Belgium (2018)

Dr. Saussus is actively involved in academic mentoring and collaborative research projects. She is preparing to teach courses on 'Archaeology, history and anthropology of objects, materials and techniques' and 'Transmettre, restituer, analyser les savoir-faire : approches multidisciplinaires' for the 2025-2026 academic year. Her research is supported by her affiliation with CRH, one of France's premier historical research centers, and her participation in the AHLoMA research team, which provides a collaborative environment for interdisciplinary medieval studies.

Through her work at CRH and participation in AHLoMA, Dr. Saussus contributes to a vibrant research ecosystem focused on the historical anthropology of the long Middle Ages. Her research integrates closely with colleagues studying material culture, urban history, and technological development during this period, creating synergies that enhance the interpretive power of archaeological and historical evidence.