Lorenzo d'Alfonso

Lorenzo d'Alfonso is a Professor of Western Asian Archaeology and History at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World (ISAW) at New York University. He holds an MA from the University of Pavia (1997) and a PhD from the University of Florence (2002). His research focuses on the social, juridical, and political history of Syria and Anatolia under the Hittite Empire (16th–7th centuries BCE). He has directed archaeological surveys in Southern Cappadocia since 2006 and excavations at Kinik Höyük (Turkey) since 2010, investigating post-Hittite cultural transitions and urban development. His work includes monographs, over 30 articles, and co-edited volumes, alongside digital projects like the Emar Online Database.

Key projects include the long-term Kinik Höyük excavation (since 2010), analyzing Iron Age Anatolia’s material culture, settlement patterns, and political landscapes. His research integrates textual sources (e.g., Hittite legal procedures) with archaeological data, exploring themes like local leadership, state administration, and cultural memory. Recent work emphasizes post-Hittite socio-political reorganization and the interplay between empires and local communities.

Publications highlight diverse topics: Hittite judicial systems, Achaemenid-era rituals, Iron Age pottery circulation, and architectural continuity in sacred spaces. His excavations at Kinik Höyük have revealed insights into urban resilience during periods of political fragmentation. Collaborative efforts include geoarchaeological surveys and paleographic studies of Anatolian hieroglyphic scripts.

Research grants and fellowships have supported his work across institutions, including the Universities of Mainz, Konstanz, and Pavia. His fieldwork emphasizes interdisciplinary methods, combining archaeology with conservation science to address ancient building techniques and material preservation challenges.