Lecturer in Mesopotamian and Nubian Archaeology
About
Current Research Interests:
I am currently working on aspects of long-term cultural trajectories in Nubia and in Mesopotamia. I have recently written papers on the importance of mobility in the cultures of Nubia and on the capacity of cities in ancient Mesopotamia to generate economic, social, and political change.
Current Research Projects:
I am co-director of the International Kurru Archaeological Project, which focuses on the site of El Kurru in northern Sudan. This site was a royal pyramid burial field of ancient Kush, including burials of the Kushite kings who conquered Egypt in about 715 BCE and ruled as the 25th Dynasty of Egypt--the so-called “Black Pharaohs”. Our project aims to provide archaeological context to these burials by locating and excavating remains of the ancient (and later) settlement around the cemetery. We are also developing a cultural heritage center in collaboration with the local community that will explain the site and the excavations.
I am currently (as of 2015) co-editing the Oxford Handbook of Ancient Nubia, a massive volume that will provide a comprehensive picture of the current state of the field as well as setting new agendas. I am also developing two exhibits on ancient Nubia.
Teaching Interests:
Archaeology of Mesopotamia, Nubia, and Egypt. Ancient cities, states, and empires. Ethnicity and identity. Museums and cultural heritage. Archaeology of Medieval Middle East (Crusades).
PBS National Geographic: Rise of the Black Pharaohs
