I am an archaeologist of the Near East in the Roman period. My research focuses on the dynamics of ancient empires and identity formation, and extends to the era of the Hellenistic-Seleucid kings, preceding Roman control, and the period after Rome was replaced by Byzantine and Early Islamic rulers. I take a bottom-up approach to ancient imperialism by investigating the cultural expressions of local communities. Funerary customs in particular, provide key insights to the formation and renegotiation of local identities in the face of imperial and globalizing forces. I am also interested in archaeological theory, digital approaches, and initiatives aimed at safeguarding cultural heritage of the Middle East.
Key words: Archaeology of the Hellenistic and Roman Near East, Mortuary Studies, Ancient Empires, Globalization and Identity, Diversity and Sustainability, Archaeological Heritage in Conflict zones, and Digitalization/Digital Databases