Thanks to a grant from the Leverhulme Trust, the University of Kent is able to offer three full 3-year PhD scholarships beginning May 2011, on The Visualisation of the Late Antique City, as part of a research project led by Dr Luke Lavan and Dr Ellen Swift. Our research will aim to establish an academic basis for reconstructions of everyday life in Mediterranean cities of this period, through both synthetic writing and detailed case studies of specific archaeological sites.
The three doctorates will consider everyday Architectural Decoration in the Late Antique City, Urban Artefact Assemblages in Late Antiquity and Dress and Personal Appearance in Late Antiquity.
Sources will be both archaeological, artistic and textual, and will be used to build a shared database on everyday life, in conjunction with a historical illustrator to produce colour images of urban scenes in selected cities. On completion of the project, the doctoral theses will be prepared for publication in a monograph series and will also contribute to a collective volume on Everyday Life in the Late Antique City.
The Centre for Late Antique Archaeology is an active research hub, with easy access to London research libraries, now 50 minutes away by train.
It produces its own annual, Late Antique Archaeology, holds frequent international conferences and is engaged in a number of related field projects, at Ostia, Port of Rome, and on the Saxon Shore Forts. We enjoy good relationships with heritage practitioners of museum display, re-enactment and site interpretation for the late antique period.
The Department of Classical and Archaeological Studies is a vibrant community, committed to the interdisciplinary study of the ancient world and its neighbours, from Minoan to Late Antique times. Applicants should have a first class or 2i degree or equivalent and an established interest in late antique archaeology. An MA degree would be an advantage, as would practical experience of archaeological fieldwork / museums, and knowledge of one or more modern European languages (French, German and Italian). A commitment to meeting deadlines and working within a team is essential, as the project will only achieve its full potential if outputs are delivered on time and a collaborative ethos is maintained.
A tax-free scholarship will be provided for three years, to cover fees at Home/EU level and to provide a living allowance of 13,000 GBP.
Research expenses to cover foreign travel for the project will also be covered.
Applications for the scholarships should consist of a CV, covering letter and an example of written work, made by email to postgraduate secretary Juliette Ash. An application must also be made for the degree programme on-line . No research proposal is required but all application materials (via email or on-line) must make clear which of the above doctorates is being applied for. Candidates are welcome to apply for more than one topic, but must specify an order of preference.
Selection will be based on written submissions, with the option of interview by telephone / email.
Application Deadline: 20th February 2011
