Craig Harvey, PhD

Area of Study / Keywords

Roman Archaeology Archaeology of Jordan Roman provinces Construction materials and techniques Frontier studies Roman baths Roman imperialism and provincial resilience

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About

I received my PhD in Classical Art and Archaeology from the University of Michigan in 2020, prior to which I completed my MA at the University of Victoria and my BAH at Queen's University. Before arriving at the University of Alberta, I held a postdoc at the University of Western Ontario where I worked with the Vindolanda Archaeological Leather Project.

I am the Director of the Humayma Excavation Project, which explores a significant archaeological site in southern Jordan that was occupied in the Nabataean, Roman, and early Islamic periods. As part of this project, I run the University of Alberta Archaeological Field School at Humayma, Jordan. Please reach out by email if you are interested in opportunities to participate in this project.

I am a core member of the international research network BATH – BAlnea & Thermae, which supports and advocates for the study of Roman baths, and I have recently taken on the role of the president of the Edmonton Society of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA). Be sure to keep an eye out for lectures by visiting and local archaeologists!

Together with Dr. Amanda Hardman, I have also just co-launched a new project to digitize objects in the W.G. Hardy Collection of Ancient Near Eastern and Classical Antiquities. You can find 3D models of artefacts created by students as part of this project here.

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Research

My research is closely connected with my fieldwork, which has investigated Nabataean and Roman sites throughout southern Jordan including Humayma, Khirbet al-Khalde, Petra, and ‘Ayn Gharandal. I am particularly interested in the interplay between imperialism and the environment in the Roman East, especially as it is manifested through building materials and techniques. My research also extends to Roman-style baths and the formation of identity along the Roman frontiers, with an interest in the economic and cultural relations between the Roman military and local communities.

Currently, my research focuses on the important archaeological site of Humayma, in southern Jordan, where I have restarted archaeological investigation with a goal of increasing our understanding of economic development and human-environmental interactions from the 1st century BCE to the 8th century CE in this arid yet highly connected region of the ancient world. This project recently received a SSHRC Insight Development Grant to support renewed fieldwork at Humayma, and forthcoming seasons will explore landscapes of economic production as well as trash middens at the site, in addition to other areas of significance.

I have published on a range of topics, including various classes of material culture, such numismatics, ceramic building materials, wall paintings, and papyri (you can find a list of my open access articles here). I am currently preparing for publication the findings from the most recent season at Humayma as well as final results from studies on ceramic building materials (CBM) and painted plaster from previous excavations at the site.

CLASS 480 - Topics in the Archaeology of the Roman Provinces

Prerequisite: Any CLASS course at the 200 level or above or consent of Department. May be repeated for credit when course content differs.

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CLASS 516 - Topics in the Archaeology of the Roman Provinces

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Browse more courses taught by Craig Harvey

Craig A. Harvey

American Journal of Numismatics Second Series 34. 2022 November;

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Craig A. Harvey

Studies in the History and Archaeology of Jordan XIII. Amman, Jordan: Department of Antiquities.. 2019 January;

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Craig A. Harvey

C. S. Sommer and S. Matešić eds. Limes XXIII: Proceedings of the 23rd International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies, Ingolstadt, 2015. Internationalen Limeskongress in Ingolstadt 2015. Beiträge zum Welterbe Limes Sonderband [Special Volume] 4. Mainz: Nünnerich-Asmus Verlag. 2018 January;