Lea Stirling
Lea Stirling is Professor and Canada Research Chair in Roman Archaeology at the University of Manitoba, Canada. From August to December 2008 she is Visiting Professor in the Department of Classical Archaeology at the University of Aarhus and a member of the ‘Art and Social Identities in Late Antiquity’ programme. Here, she writes about her current research:
Mythological Iconography in Late Antiquity
My research grows out of curiosity about mythological imagery in late antiquity. How did different viewers interpret mythological images in various genres? How did a classical education influence the commissioning and viewing of art? I am particularly interested in the continued role of statues, be they heirloom pieces or contemporary artworks. Building on my earlier research on the production of statuary in the 4th and early 5th century and on statuary decoration in Late Roman homes, I am currently researching statuary assemblages in Late Antique baths. Another research interest is imagery of Venus in Late Antiquity.
Selected publications on Late Antique art:
Stirling, L. M. 2008. “Pagan Statuettes in Late Antique Corinth: Sculpture from the Panayia Domus.” Hesperia 77: 89-161.
Stirling, L. M. 2007. “Statuary Collecting and Display in the Late Antique Villas of Gaul and Spain: A Comparative Study.” In Statuen und Statuensammlungen in der Spätantike (Spätantike – Frühes Christentum – Byzanz. Kunst im ersten Jahrtausend, Reihe B: Studien und Perspektiven 23), C. Witschel and F. Alto Bauer, eds. Wiesbaden: 307-321.
Stirling, L. M. 2005. The Learned Collector: Mythological Statuettes and Classical Taste in Late Antique Gaul. Ann Arbor.
Stirling, L. M. 1996. “Divinities and Heroes in the Age of Ausonius: A Late-Antique Villa and Sculptural Collection at Saint-Georges-de-Montagne (Gironde).” Revue Archéologique: 103-43.
Lamta
I currently co-direct excavations at a Roman and Early Christian cemetery at Leptiminus (Lamta, Tunisia) with Dr. Nejib Ben Lazreg (Institut National du Patrimoine) and Dr. Susan Stevens (Randolph College). Used continuously from the 2nd to the 5th century A.D., the East Cemetery provides valuable evidence for changing tomb types, ritual practices, and population health. From the 4th century onward, the cemetery included catacombs and Christian tomb mosaics with portraits and incriptions. Past work at Leptiminus includes excavation in a Roman bath that was turned to industrial purposes in Late Antiquity.
Publications on the East Cemetery:
Ben Lazreg, N. 2002. “Roman and Early Christian burial complex at Leptiminus: first notice.” Journal of Roman Archaeology 15: 336-45.
Ben Lazreg, N., S. Stevens, L. Stirling, and J. P. Moore. 2006. “Roman and Early Christian Burial Complex at Leptiminus (Lamta): Second Notice.” Journal of Roman Archaeology 19: 347-368.
Keenleyside, A. H. Schwarcz, L. Stirling, and N. Ben Lazreg. Forthcoming. “Stable Isotopic Evidence for Diet in a Roman and Late Roman Population from Leptiminus, Tunisia.” Accepted by the Journal of Archaeological Science, 24 July 2008.
Selected publications by the Leptiminus Archaeological Project:
Ben Lazreg, N. and D.J. Mattingly (eds.). 1992. Leptiminus (Lamta): A Roman Port City in Tunisia, Report no. 1 (Journal of Roman Archaeology supplement 4 = Leptiminus 1). Ann Arbor.
Mattingly, D. J., D. L. Stone, L. M. Stirling, N. Ben Lazreg. 2000. “Leptiminus (Tunisia): A ‘Producer’ City?” In Economies Beyond Agriculture in the Classical World. Ed. D. J. Mattingly and J. Salmon. London: 66-89.
Stirling, L. M., with contributions by D. J. Mattingly and N. Ben Lazreg. 2001. “The East Baths and their Industrial Re-use in Late Antiquity: 1992 Excavations.” In Leptiminus 2: 30-74.
Stirling, L. M., D. J. Mattingly and N. Ben Lazreg (eds). 2001. Leptiminus (Lamta): A Roman Port City in Tunisia. Report 2: The East Baths, Cemeteries, Kilns, Venus Mosaic, Site Museum, and Other Studies (Journal of Roman Archaeology supplement 41; = Leptiminus 2). Portsmouth RI.