About

Dr. Hammond’s research interests focus on the art and archaeology of Late Antiquity, a period of transformation from the classical to medieval/Byzantine eras, with a specialization in archaeological ceramic analysis. His publications on ancient Mediterranean pottery focus on the intersection between local, regional, and long-distance ceramic traditions, and have included work on Early Roman Cyprus and Late Roman Corinth, as well as Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman Crete. Since 2000, he has participated in archaeological projects on various sites in Greece (Ancient Corinth, Crete, and Kythera), Cyprus, Italy, the Republic of North Macedonia, and Canada. Recent projects include his study of the pottery from the so-called “Hill of Zeus” in Ancient Corinth, which brings together ceramic analysis, mortuary customs, and studio ceramics to illuminate the use-life of ceramics in a Late Antique cemetery.

Currently, Dr. Hammond is co-director of the project “The Metamorphosis of Faith in Philia, Thessaly: The Sanctuary of Itonia Athina from Polytheism to Christianity.” This is an international archaeological collaboration with the Philipps University of Marburg, Germany, and the Karditsa Ephorate of Antiquities, Greece (the local branch of the Greek archaeological service) to study the sanctuary of Athena Itonia in Philia, Thessaly, Greece, and its transformation from a pagan sanctuary to a Byzantine church. Hammond also serves as the director of the ceramics lab for the project. For more information, visit: https://www.uni-marburg.de/de/fb05/fachgebiete/fachgebiete/christliche-archaeologie-und-byzantinische-kunstgeschichte/forschungen/the-metamorphosis-of-faith-in-philia-thessaly-the-sanctuary-of-itonia-athina-from-polytheism-to-christianity.

His teaching focuses on courses dealing with the wider ancient Greek and Roman worlds, and includes, among others, courses in Classical Myth and Elementary Latin. Since 2019 Dr. Hammond has been leading CLSC 199, a 3-credit course that focuses on a study abroad program to Athens, Greece, during Spring Break. Going beyond the classical narrative, students explore how the idea of Athens was received by later powers (Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans) and the modern Greek state through an examination of the material remains found within the city and its environs. He has also co-led CLSC 326/426, a summer study abroad to Rome and Pompeii, Italy, and is looking forward to bringing students to his project in Thessaly as part of an archaeological field school in the near future.

Students are encouraged to contact Dr. Hammond at any time, but especially if they have questions about study abroad, archaeology, or beginning the Elementary Latin sequence.