03/29/2021
Congratulations to Allison, R-MWC Classics 2003, for this and her many other accomplishments!
Congratulations to Dr. SK on a new publication!
Dr. Sterrett-Krause has just published a chapter in Leptiminus (Lamta) Report No. 4: The East Cemetery: stratigraphy, ceramics, non-ceramic finds and bio-archaeological studies, edited by Nejib Ben Lazreg, Lea M. Stirling, and Jennifer P. Moore. This 2-volume archaeological report appears in the prestigious Journal of Roman Archaeology Supplementary Series, no. 110. The book reports on excavations of a large Roman and Byzantine (Christian) cemetery from the town of Leptiminus, Tunisia; Dr. Sterrett-Krause’s chapter includes primary publication of the glass from the excavations and an earlier survey of the city. She also analyses the types of glass vessels found at the cemetery, provides evidence for dating the vessels and their use, and proposes that Christian residents of Leptiminus may have used similar rituals of commemorating the dead as their pagan Roman forebearers. CofC alumni Sarah Legendre ‘17 and Colin Shields ’20 assisted Dr. Sterrett-Krause with this work.
The Leptiminus East Cemetery excavations are among the first in North Africa to study such a wide range of archaeological evidence from modern stratigraphic excavation: tomb markers and architecture; ceramics; glass vessels; coins; human skeletal remains; animal bones; and botanical data. This kind of work takes a huge effort: 16 authors from five countries; dozens of excavators, illustrators, and research assistants; five seasons of excavation and field study; and 12 years of post-excavation research, review, writing, and editing! The combined research gives a rich picture of human activities at the site of Leptiminus’ East Cemetery over more than 4 centuries and offers insights into the nature of death—and life—in an ordinary Roman town.