Will Wootton

Dr Will Wootton is a Reader in Classical Art and Archaeology and Head of the Classics Department at King’s College London. He holds a BA from Bristol University, an MPhil and DPhil from Oxford University. His research focuses on craft production in antiquity, particularly Roman and Hellenistic mosaics, and intersects with archaeology, art history, and digital humanities. He has led projects such as The Art of Making in Antiquity (Leverhulme-funded) and Conserving and Managing Mosaics in Libya (Getty Foundation). He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and chairs the Association for the Study and Preservation of Roman Mosaics.

Key research areas include mosaic techniques, heritage management, and interdisciplinary approaches to cultural preservation. Notable projects include managing World Heritage sites in Libya (ALIPH-funded MaLiCH project) and digital art history initiatives like Ancient Itineraries. He has supervised doctoral students in classical archaeology and collaborates with organizations like the Iris Project to engage communities with Classics.

Publications span mosaics, Roman craftsmanship, and heritage conservation, with recent work on Gerasa’s Northwest Quarter and the Parthenon Sculptures’ polychromy. Awards include the ICCROM-Sharjah Award for heritage preservation in Libya.