My research sits at the intersection of classical archaeology and computer science.

My current project focuses on computationally modelling three archaeological sites below basilicas in Rome, skilfully combining ancient texts and contexts to create an innovative cultural history of ten sites and their transformation from the imperial to the early medieval period. This approach has led to ground-breaking interpretations of five domestic complexes in Pompeii, Ostia, and Rome, opening up new methodological pathways in the study of ancient domestic space and illuminating new aspects of Rome’s cultural history of transformation between 200 and 600 CE, and tracing later developments in Roman housing from atrium house to apartment building, and rethinking early patterns of transformation between of housing and early Christian worship spaces through theoretical approaches such as Bourdieu’s Habitus and Braudel’s Longue Durée.

My postdoctoral project, ‘Excavating the Archives, ’ builds on and furthers this multifaceted research programme by critically evaluating how computational approaches, particularly artificial intelligence, can enhance, but also problematize, our understanding of material history. Thus far, my project has demonstrated that while computational models can aid in answering complex questions across a large body of archaeological evidence, significant bias can also be introduced in large-scale analyses, particularly in areas such as the Roman Empire. My new project, therefore, seeks to define further the impact of computational methods on the large-scale study of the material record through five articles that will emphasise both the advantages and limitations of digital techniques, and capture the scope of current concerns. I do this via methods such as user-experience design and oral history.

The project's outputs will intentionally advocate for transparency through collaborative development and open-access publication of technical details, adhering to international standards for digital data. It also considers how to carefully develop new computational approaches, taking into account critical ethical and sustainability issues throughout the process. The project is highly collaborative, and the upcoming academic year will feature several events designed to gather feedback, foster new collaborations, and lay the groundwork for future research. Please feel free to contact me!