Research
Miniature Pottery in the Bronze Age Aegean
Miniatures are seemingly everywhere in the Bronze Age Aegean! From tiny seal stones and figurines, to miniature frescoes and diminutive pots, small-scale objects are particularly prevalent in the material culture of prehistoric Crete and the Aegean. But why is this? What were miniatures used for and what did they mean? My doctoral research investigated the use and significance of miniature pottery in the Bronze Age Aegean from the Protopalatial and Neopalatial periods (approximately 1900 BCE to 1450 BCE). My primary data involved the material study of more than 500 miniature ceramic vessels from thirteen settlements across central and Eastern Crete. I presented the preliminary results of this analysis at the 121st Annual Meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America in January, 2020, and successfully defended my PhD dissertation at the University of Toronto in September 2021. The thesis abstract and table of contents are available on my academia.edu page, and an article containing some of my doctoral research was published in the Annual of the British School at Athens in 2023. I am currently working on the publication of this material and the continued study of small-scale objects in the Bronze Age Aegean.
Sacred Waters and Ancient Rituals
I am fascinated by the religious rituals that mark our life cycles as humans. My husband, Dr. Jonathan M. Flood, is fascinated by water, and how its chemistry has shaped its use and perception in cultures over time. Together, we investigate water rituals around the world, particularly the ancient Mediterranean, exploring how water, an essential part of life on earth, has been revered, feared, and believed to be curative, transformative, or prophetic. Read more about our work and adventures on Jonathan’s website, and join us as we investigate healing water cults and water-centric social phenomenon from archaeological and historical contexts.