Margriet Haagsma, PhD, MPhil, Drs.

Contact

Professor, Faculty of Arts - History, Classics, & Religion Dept

Email: haagsma@ualberta.ca
Phone: (780) 492-2985
Address: 2-65 Tory (H.M.) Building
11211 Saskatchewan Drive NW

Edmonton AB

T6G 2H4

Overview

Area of Study / Keywords

Mediterranean Archaeology Archaeology of Greece Archaeology of Domestic Space Ancient Urbanism

About

I am a Classical Archaeologist who received her PhD and MA from the University of Groningen and an MPhil from the University of Cambridge. I have a background and interest in archaeological methods and social theory and I currently am an associate professor in the Department of History and Classics of the University of Alberta.

Before coming to the University of Alberta, I worked for eight years at the Netherlands Institute at Athens, first as assistant director and the last six years as director (1993-2001). At the UofA (2001-present) I have served as a BA advisor in Classics, as coordinator for the MA program in Ancient Cultures and Societies, Ambassador for the UofA' s Undergraduate Research Initiative in the Faculty of Arts, as a member of the Faculty of Arts Teaching and Learning Committee, and as coordinator of the Certificate in Archaeology. From 2016-2019 I was the Associate Chair Graduate Studies in the Department of History and Classics. I am currently the director Graduate Programs (interim) in our department.

In 2014 I was awarded a McCalla professorship. In 2021 I received the Helena Fracchia Award for International teaching.

Research

My major research interest is domestic space in Ancient Greece, as well as landscape studies, and I have worked for many years in archaeological projects in Thessaly (Halos and Kallithea). My publications include interpretations of domestic culture and economy and lately I have become very interested in the organization of Ethne and Poleis, and especially in expressions and perception of regional identities in Ancient Greece.

The Kastro Kallithea Archaeological Project (KKAP), which I co-direct with Sophia Karapanou, entails the mapping, surveying and excavation of a city in Thessaly dating to the Classical and Hellenistic period. This is a cooperative project with the Ephorate of Antiquities in Larissa. Our work is carried out under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Canadian Institute in Greece. We receive exceptional support from the municipality of Farsala, and since the Summer of 2025 the fruits of our labour can be witnessed in the Farsala's archaeological museum.

In 2019, we started with a new research program focused on landscape: the Central Achaia Phthiotis Survey (CAPS). Supported by SSHRC IDG, PEG, PDG grants and a Killam cornerstone grant, our team focuses on the relationships between landscape, domestic economies, social organization and the deep history of the ethnos Achaia Phthiotis. Also this project includes abundant field training opportunities for students. Field methods included: fieldwalking, LiDAR, geomagnetic prospection, electric resistivity tomography, and excavation, while analytical methods included ceramic analysis, faunal analysis, Isotopic studies and more. Also this project is a cooperative endeavour with the Ephorate in Larissa, and supported by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, and the Canadian Institute in Greece.

Academic Specializations:

City planning in Ancient Greece

Landscape Studies

Domestic Archaeology

Archaeological Method and Theory

The History of Archaeology

Ancient Economy

Teaching

I teach large enrollment courses on Greek civilization as well as specialized graduate courses on Archaeological Theory, Greek Sanctuaries, Domestic Archaeology, Funerary Archaeology, and Ancient Greek City Planning. I believe that the transferable skills taught in Arts are of vital importance for a successful professional career, even if that career is not in academia.

Thus far I supervised more than 25 graduate students and have served in numerous PhD and MA committees.