The Material World of Ancient Greece and Rome: Archaeological Excavation and Interpretation

Presented by David Hernandez

This seminar examines the archaeology and material culture of ancient Greece and Rome, exploring the methods, results, and findings of archaeological excavations and the interpretation of archaeological evidence. In addition to the cities of Athens, Rome, and Pompeii, special consideration is given to the archaeology of Butrint (Bouthrotos, Buthrotum), an Ionian seaport situated in the ancient region of NW Greece (https://butrint.nd.edu/). The discussion of material culture is wide-ranging, from architecture, paintings, inscriptions, and sculpture to coins, tools, ceramics, and fauna. Major topics discussed in the seminar include imperialism, acculturation (so-called “Romanization”), colonization, urbanism, the imperial cult (worship of the Roman Emperor), paganism, burial practices, politics, and social history (family, class, slavery, cultural traditions, and ethnic identity).

 

About David Hernandez

David Hernandez is Associate Professor of Classics and Archaeology at the University of Notre Dame. He received his Ph.D. and M.A. in Classical Archaeology from the University of Cincinnati and a B.A. in Physics from the University of California at Berkeley. He is the Director of the Roman Forum Excavations (RFE) Project at Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in southern Albania.