Person
Senior Lecturer
- Classical archaeology and ancient history
- Department of Archaeology and Ancient History
Contact information
E-mail maria.nilssonklass.luse
Room LUX:A112
Visiting address
Helgonavägen 3, Lund
Postal address
Box 192, 221 00 Lund
Internal post code 30
Following the disputation on my doctoral thesis on Hellenistic Queen Arsinoë II's crown (iconographic study) at Gothenburg University in 2010, my current research focuses on ancient rock art and graffiti, as well as the material culture revealed during my excavation project in Gebel el-Silsila, Egypt.
I have been employed as a researcher at LU since 2012, and as a senior lecturer since 2023.
My current VR-project (Beyond the Urban Elite: Tracing identities in Ancient Egyptian 'Quarry Art' through social semiotics) analyses over 10,000 petroglyphs incised into the sandstone landscape, ranging from the Old Kingdom to the Roman period, when the site served as a quarry. The main aims are to 1) assess the socio-cultural and communicative dimensions of Quarry Art; 2) discern the social systems, processes and transformations; and 3) digitally record unique and complex panels – many that are immediately threatened for long-term preservation and open access dissemination.
In the Research Portal you can search and find information about all active researchers, units, publications, projects, infrastructures, and more, to get an overview of Lund University research.
My profile in Lund University research portal- AKSK04, Classical Archaeology and Ancient History: B.A. Course - Level 3
- ARKH04, Historical Archaeology: B.A. Course - Level 3
- ARKK04, Archaeology: B.A. Course - Level 3
- ARKN11, Archaeology and Ancient History: Archaeological Theory and Material Culture
- HOSK04, Historical Osteology: B. A. Course - Level 3
Having known my lifegoal from childhood, I am a scholar by heart: I live and breathe archaeologyand research, and I am truly passionate about my work, the site of Gebelel-Silsila, my team and of course my family. I started the Gebel el Silsila Project in 2012, a yearafter completing my PhD and during revolutionary times in Egypt: it is the largest active Swedish-led archaeological mission in Egypt, spanning over 30km2and 10.000 years of human activity, involving more than 100 people. I am solelyresponsible for seeking funding for the fieldwork.
I work to promote and safekeep the site,train local workmen and ministerial inspectors, make appearances ininternational TV, radio, printed and social media, lecture for peers and laymenalike, and publish as much and soon as possible.
In addition to mythesis, I have written two books, 27 peer reviewed academic papers (16 articles, 11 proceedings papers),several scientific reports, and over 30 popular scientific articles (H-index 7),and I am the chief editor of The SwedishExpedition to Gebel el-Silsila, a monographic series to be publishedannually by Brill. I have peer reviewed several academic papers and books, presentedresults at c. 50 national andinternational conferences, symposia and events, 35 of which as an invitedspeaker. Through my active fieldwork and previous living in Egypt I haveestablished an extensive international network spanning several fields withinthe social sciences, governmental organs (Ministry of Antiquities, UNESCO,Swedish Embassy in Cairo, museums, universities, institutes), and media. I aman invited member of various societies and organisations. I have establishedmyself within the research of ancient Egyptian queens, iconography, rock art, quarrymarks and graffiti, quarries, and the overall site of Gebel el-Silsila.
Senior Lecturer
- Classical archaeology and ancient history
- Department of Archaeology and Ancient History
Contact information
E-mail maria.nilssonklass.luse
Room LUX:A112
Visiting address
Helgonavägen 3, Lund
Postal address
Box 192, 221 00 Lund
Internal post code 30
Phone hours
+46462227938