Jane Hjarl Petersen serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Culture and Language at the University of Southern Denmark. Her interdisciplinary research bridges classical archaeology, cultural heritage management, and object-based pedagogy, with sustained focus on Mediterranean port cities, funerary practices, and material dimensions of identity in antiquity. PhD in Classical Archaeology, Aarhus University (2007) Dr. Petersen's research explores intricate connections between material culture and social dynamics in Greco-Roman societies. She specializes in funerary archaeology of port city necropolises, terracotta studies , and reception of antiquity in modern contexts. Her current work emphasizes object-based learning , investigating how tactile engagement with artifacts enhances educational outcomes and cultural awareness. Key projects examine demographic layouts of Roman harbor cities and sustainable strategies for preserving archaeological collections. Recent publications reveal concentrated investigation of Mediterranean cultural interfaces, particularly case studies from Magna Graecia and Iberia. Her work on Ostia establishes critical frameworks for understanding urban decline in late antiquity through funerary evidence. A unifying thread across her scholarship is the application of archaeological insights to contemporary heritage challenges, especially through pedagogical innovation and public engagement with material culture. No scientific awards or fellowships are documented in available sources. Dr. Petersen actively mentors students through thesis supervision and specialized courses: Advising : Supervised bachelor and master's theses on classical archaeology topics including Greek ceramics and funerary practices Grants : Research supported by Carlsberg Foundation funding as referenced in 2018 media coverage She leads the "Antikken på Fyn" (The Antiquity on Funen) initiative at SDU, developing object-based learning strategies for classical artifact collections. As board member of Collegium Hyperboreum, she contributes to Arctic archaeological research while maintaining active collaboration with museums and cultural institutions for public dissemination of classical heritage.










