University of Oxford

Graduate Student, Archaeology

Other Affiliations: Jagiellonian University, Department of Archaeology
University of Oxford, Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology
University of Warsaw, Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology

DPhil candidate

St Cross College

Thesis Title: Defining mechanisms of Red Sea and Indian Ocean trade between 3rd c BC and 6th c AD: Using spatial analysis and geoarchaeology to investigate harbours at the port city archaeological sites of Berenice (Egypt), Pattanam (India), Manthai (Sri Lanka) and Unguja Ukuu (Zanzibar).

About

Since October 2010 I am conducting my DPhil (PhD) research at the Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology, School of Archaeology, University of Oxford. The vast geographic area of my study takes me around the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, where I endeavour to study ancient maritime trade routes. By studying the changing landscapes, seascapes and environments of four port cities - case studies in within the Red Sea - Indian Ocean cultural zone, my DPhil research aims to elucidate the key mechanisms of seafaring, maritime trade and technologies related to what is referred to as the Indo-Roman trade network. My research programme is divided into three geographical scales of analysis (at the geographical: local, regional, international, and methodological levels: geoarchaeological fieldwork, laboratory analysis, GIS modelling). This novel science-based approach to port studies employs interdisciplinary techniques from different aspects of maritime studies (oceanographic, meteorological, navigational, hydrogeological), geoarchaeology (geomorphological, sedimentological), palaeoclimatology (sea level change), providing a new outlook into ancient maritime and archaeological landscape reconstruction. My work in these regions compliments The Sealinks Project, The Berenike Excavations Project as well as The Muziris Heritage Project.

I hold Masters (MPhil) in Archaeology from Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland. In my time I have completed a semester at the Institute of Archaeology, University of Warsaw during my MOST scholarship and a year in the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens during my ERASMUS scholarship.

Over past nine years I have undertaken fieldwork on terrestrial sites in Egypt (Berenike, Alexandria, Deir el Bahari, Tell el Farkha), India (Pattanam), Kenya (Panga ya Mzingi), Tanzania (Limbo) and Zanzibar (Fukuchani, Unguja Ukku), Syria (Tell Arbid), Bahrain (Fakro Amara, Bu Maher), Kuwait (As Sabiyah, Mugheira), Qatar (Doha-National Museum), Greece (Aghia Triada), Italy (Cesena-Otricola), Montenegro (Risan), Belgium (Liberchies, Brugge), Ukraine (Koshary), and on numerous sites in Poland and the UK. Underwater I have worked in Egypt (Abukir/Heracleion), Turkey (Cape Gelidonya), Montenegro (Risan, Malyevik, Bigovica) and in Ukraine (Novy Svet). My work is based in both - research and commercial sectors; in field, underwater and in lab.

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