Classical & Mediterranean Archaeology

Caspar Reuvens, the world’s first Professor of Archaeology, was a prominent classical scholar and from his appointment in 1818 onwards Classical & Mediterranean Archaeology has been an important field of research in Leiden.

The research of our current group concentrates on new synergies developing in the Ancient World due to processes of connectivity, including cultural and imperial expansion, roughly in the period between 500 BC – AD 500.

We study these processes on different scales (local, regional and Eurasian/global) within a vast geographical space (covering Europe, Asia and Africa) and through different techniques (space syntax, survey, remote sensing, excavation, advanced geographical information techniques and statistical analysis, material culture studies, comparative and theoretical studies).

Our successes in obtaining grants makes Leiden Classical & Mediterranean Archaeology into a vibrant research group with many international PhDs and PostDocs.