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Job - Ph.D / Archaeologist(archaeological and archaeometric research regarding provenance determination of Aegyptiaca from Rome)

Ph.D / Archaeologist (archaeological and archaeometric research regarding provenance determination of Aegyptiaca from Rome), Faculty of Archaeology

Job description

General project information

Where Greek influences on Roman cultural innovation have always been dominant and well studied, the picture is not balanced and complete without an integrated understanding of the second important influence by Egypt. An integrated synthesis based on analyses of different forms of appropriation of Egypt in different contexts and in different sources will deepen our knowledge on the Roman motives for the selection and use of ‘foreign’ elements.

The Romans were well aware of the cultural dimensions of innovation and in the end their tradition looked like a blend of heterogeneous elements. This project aims at deepening our understanding of Roman cultural innovation by focussing on the role of Egypt.

The challenge is to provide the next step in our understanding of Egypt in the Roman world by means of an integrated synthesis. The project will use a multi-disciplinary research strategy that puts the process of Roman cultural innovation central. For the first time in this field, archaeological, archaeometric, historical and written sources, methods and analyses will be combined. The project will focus on the relation between archaeological data and literary-historical sources and will investigate why and how Egyptian elements were selected and used, and how they functioned in the Roman system of cultural innovation.

Through this research strategy the project will be able to provide a novel synthesis regarding Egyptian influences on the Roman world. This synthesis concerning the role and meaning of Egypt will subsequently be compared to the role other ‘foreign’ cultures (Etruscan, Greek, Celtic, Syrian, Jewish) played in the process of Roman appropriation. By this comparative perspective the project will be able to throw a new light on the functioning of cultural innovation in the Roman Mediterranean and to add to more general discussions on the cultural aspects of globalisation.

For a more extensive summary of the research proposal see http://archaeology.leiden.edu/research/news-mission/vidi-miguel-john-verluys-egypt-in-the-roman-world.html

Position for a PhD CANDIDATE   
The city of Rome has preserved a large amount of Aegyptiaca, most of them made out of stone. This archaeological and archaeometric research will provide a database with new evidence to establish the provenance of these Aegyptiaca and to elucidate the reasons for their selection. A sample of objects with known context from the most current raw materials will be selected. This database will be studied through mineralogical and geochemical (isotope) analysis. The archaeometric research will be carried out in cooperation with the Center for Archaeological Sciences (CAS) from Leuven University (Dr. P. Degryse). The candidate is expected to relate the outcome of the archaeometric research to the overarching questions of the project on Roman cultural innovation. Extensive field work and site study in Italy (and possibly Egypt) are part of the research.

 

Requirements

be an enthusiastic and efficient researcher, who has a clear affinity with the research program;
have an excellent academic track record, with a Master’s degree or equivalent in the field of (Classical) Archaeology, qualifying for the doctoral research, preferably with experience in the archaeological sciences;
have a good, active command of both written and spoken English and be able to read and conversate in German, French and Italian;
be motivated to follow the PhD program of the Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, and be committed to finishing the dissertation within four years.

Conditions of employment

The PhD  position is a temporary, usually full-time (38 hours a week) for a maximum duration of four years. The selected PhD  candidate will devote approximately 80% of her/his working time to research, and 20% to following courses and to teaching. In view of the latter, the PhD  candidate must be willing and able to teach classes and seminars on topics of her/his specialisation. The salary of the PhD  candidate is
€ 2042,- gross per month in the first year, increasing to € 2612,- gross per month in the fourth year based on fulltime employment (in accordance with current salary scales as set out in the collective labour agreement for Dutch Universities).

Contract type

Temporary

4 years

Organisation

http://archaeology.leiden.edu/

 

The short URL code for this job opening is: 3252
Direct link to this job www.academictransfer.com/3252