Interdisciplinary Program in Archaeology

Faculty Research

Faculty at the College of Charleston are involved in a variety of research projects, ranging from the search for the earliest origins of pre-hominid species to modern practices of preserving the archaeological and cultural record for future generations. Several of these endeavors have provided opportunities for student participation in the past. Students or the public interested in faculty research should feel free to contact the person(s) listed for more information. Ancient Landscapes of the Hittite and Byzantine Hinterland The Göksu Archaeological Project in Turkey Theban Tombs in Egypt Two Eyes of the Earth: Roman and Iranian Interactions in Late Antiquity Preserving Walls: The Defense and Display of Uncomfortable History Ancient Landscapes of the Hittite and Byzantine Hinterland: The Avkat Archaeological Project Dept. of Classics/Princeton University/Trent University Dr. James Newhard The Avkat Archaeological Project is an interdisciplinary survey in and around the modern village of Avkat, the ancient city of Euchaita. The project, under the direction of Dr. John Haldon (Princeton), features a team specialized in geophysics, geomorphology, archaeology, art history, ancient history, and GIS assembled from leading institutions in the US, Canada, UK, Turkey, and Switzerland. Students learn through active participation the methods of intensive surface survey, artifact analysis, and data interpretation; and gain an incredible experience of working in modern rural Turkey. Students interested in participating in this project should contact Dr. James Newhard, Director of the intensive survey by November 12. The Göksu Archaeological Project Dept. of Classics/British Institute in Ankara Dr. James Newhard The Göksu Archaeological Project (GAP) is an interdisciplinary intensive survey of the Upper Göksu River Valley in the Taurus Mountains of south-central Turkey. The project is a collaborative effort between Dr. Hugh Elton (Director, British Institute in Ankara) and Dr. James Newhard (College of Charleston). The project has completed its fieldwork phase, and the results being prepared for dissemination. The Theban Tombs Publication Project Dept. of History/The Serapis Institute Dr. Peter Piccione An on-going field expedition in two Egyptian rock-cut tombs dating to the Eighteenth Dynasty of the New Kingdom (mid 15th century B.C.). These tombs are located on the west bank of the Nile River opposite modern Luxor in Western Thebes on the hill, Gebel Sheikh abd el-Gurna. The goals of this project are: [a] document the tombs (by copying, translating and analyzing the wall decorations and hieroglyphic inscriptions); [b] clear the structures of archaeological debris; [c] conserve the tombs and reconstruct where necessary; [d] prepare an historical study of the family of the tomb-owners in order to understand its position and function in Egyptian society. (top) The On-line Geographical Information System of the Theban Necropolis Dept. of History/Dept. of Geological and Environmental Geosciences Dr. Peter Piccione/Dr. Kem Fronabarger/Dr. Norm Levine An interdisciplinary research initiative shared between the Departments of History and Geology and the Santee-Cooper GIS laboratory to create a new research tool for Egyptologists and geologists. This means a geographical information system (GIS) of the cemeteries of ancient Western Thebes, Egypt. Modern space technology and traditional Egyptology combine when high-resolution, multi-spectral satellite images of the Theban necropolis are used to locate and map the thousands of ancient tombs found there. These tombs are systematically catalogued and documented historically, archaeologically, and geologically, and their data is accessible through the GIS database on the World Wide Web. With this GIS system, a person can freely search for any tomb in the necropolis to learn its history and location, and he/she can manipulate the data to reveal new relationships (historical, archaeological, and geological) among the tombs and the other standing monuments and features in the area. (top) The Two Eyes of the Earth Department of Art History Dr. Matthew Canepa Professor Canepa’s research centers on the problem of cross-cultural interaction in the ancient and late antique world, especially between the Mediterranean and Iran.  He is in the process of revising a monograph for publication dealing with competition and exchange in the art and ritual of kingship between the Roman and Sasanian empires. His developing projects involve creating a handbook on Middle Iranian art and analyzing the political significance of parallels between 6th and 7th century Sasanian and Byzantine ornamental material, especially as it occurs in the churches of Hagios Polyeuktos and Hagia Sophia. (top) Preserving Walls: The Defense and Display of Uncomfortable History Historic Preservation and Urban Studies Jennifer McStotts, J.D. Professor McStotts is carrying out a comparative project on the preservation of the remains of the Berlin Wall (1961-1989) and of the Japanese internment camps (1942-1945), as well as other sites of complex, uncomfortable, and sometimes painful histories. The research questions how cultural resources are valued, assessed, and managed in light of political and emotional challenges of commemoration. (top)

updated September 4, 2007