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James, Sarah

Associate Professor

Positions

Research Areas research areas

Research

research overview

  • Dr. James is a field archaeologist and archaeological ceramicist working in Greece and Croatia. Her research is derived from excavations at the sites of Corinth and Sikyon and a large-scale survey of the western Argolid; all located in the northeastern Peloponnese of southern Greece. She has published extensively on Corinthian and Sikyonian Hellenistic ceramic assemblages (4th-1st c. BCE) with the twin goals of revising pottery chronologies and typologies and examining import patterns to better understand maritime trade networks during the Hellenistic period and conditions prior to the Roman conquest of Greece. She co-directed the Western Argolid Regional Project (WARP), a diachronic archaeological survey of the mountainous western Argolid, which focused on landscape use, inland routes through the northeastern Peloponnese, and this region's changing relationship to the ancient city of Argos. She studied much of the Greek-period pottery from the Late Bronze Age through Hellenistic period (16th-1st c. BCE) for the final volume. Her contributions include an article on survey methodology, two articles on the Late Antique landscape, and an overview of the survey's results. Beginning in summer 2022, she directs the Brač Island Project in southern coastal Croatia (Dalmatia) which is excavating an Iron Age hillfort at Gradina Rat.

keywords

  • classical archaeology, Hellenistic period, pottery, survey archaeology, ancient Mediterranean trade, ancient economy, ancient Greek art, excavation methodology, ceramic analysis, ancient Dalmatia

Publications

selected publications

Teaching

courses taught

  • ANTH 3119 - The Archaeology of Death
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2022 / Spring 2024
    Consider Death. It is a universal human phenomenon. Humans across time and space have caused, planned for, reacted to, and carried out death practices in extraordinarily different ways. Mortuary practice provides a fascinating insight into human history and culture in both the modern and ancient world. Same as CLAS 3119.
  • ARTH 2029 - Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2018
    Emphasizes the origin of the Egyptian culture, its importance and its impact on other cultures. In addition, the different points of view of various scholars are discussed with a comparative study of the ancient Egyptian culture and modern culture of Egypt and the Middle East. Same as CLAS 2029. Formerly ANTH 1160.
  • ARTH 2039 - Greek Art and Archaeology
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Spring 2022
    Covers prehistoric Aegean through the fourth century B.C.E., considering architecture, pottery, painting,sculpture, and personal ornament. Societal customs such as use of space and burial patterns are considered as well as art and its uses, to help understand developments in Greek culture. Same as CLAS 2039.
  • ARTH 4099 - Ancient Greek Sculpture
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2019 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2023
    Understanding that Greek sculpture, like all visual media, was part of the fabric of ancient Greek life and expressed the values of its creators and audience is a valuable way to gain insights into the social, economic, and political world of ancient Greece. This course will examine the work of Greek sculptors from the Archaic to the Hellenistic period. Key stylistic and technical developments, as well as significant works of art, sculptors and workshops will be discussed in detail. Some issues we will consider are the physical, religious and/or socio-historical context of individual freestanding sculptures and how specific sculptural programs illustrate aspects of Greek culture. Iconographic and narrative choices made by artists working in stone, compared to other material, will also be addressed. Same as CLAS 5099, CLAS 4099 and ARTH 5099.
  • ARTH 4139 - Greek Vase Painting
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2020 / Fall 2022
    A comprehensive overview of Greek vase painting, from prehistoric through the fourth century B.C.E. Emphasis is on learning the development of primary decorative styles and on refining skills of visual analysis, scholarly research, critical thinking, oral commentary and written presentation. Same as ARTH 5139 and CLAS 4139 and CLAS 5139.
  • ARTH 4149 - Greek Cities and Sanctuaries
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2022
    Examines Greek architecture in context, from the ninth century B.C.E. into the Hellenistic period, considering the use of space, both in religious and in civic settings and using texts as well as material culture. Emphasis is on developing analytical skills. Same as CLAS 4149 and CLAS 5149.
  • ARTH 4169 - Topics in Ancient and Classical Art and Archaeology
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2023
    In-depth consideration of an aspect of ancient Mediterranean culture. Topics vary and may include ancient wall painting, Greek sculpture, artists and patrons, the ancient Near East, Egyptian art and archaeology, or Etruscan art and archaeology. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours providing the topics are different. Same as ARTH 5169 and CLAS 4169 and CLAS 5169.
  • ARTH 5099 - Ancient Greek Sculpture
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2019 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2023
    Understanding the Greek sculpture, like all visual media, was part of the fabric of ancient Greek life and expressed the values of its creators and audience is a valuable way to gain insights into the social, economic, and political world of ancient Greece. This course will examine the work of Greek sculptors from the Archaic to the Hellenistic period. Key stylistic and technical developments, as well as significant works of art, sculptors and workshops will be discussed in detail. Some issues we will consider are the physical, religious and/or socio-historical context of individual freestanding sculptures and how specific sculptural programs illustrate aspects of Greek culture. Iconographic and narrative choices made by artists working in stone, compared to other material, will also be addressed. Same as ARTH 4099, CLAS 4099, and CLAS 5099.
  • ARTH 5139 - Greek Vase Painting
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2020 / Fall 2022
    A comprehensive overview of Greek vase painting, from prehistoric through the fourth century B.C.E. Emphasis is on learning the development of primary decorative styles and on refining skills of visual analysis, scholarly research, critical thinking, oral commentary and written presentation. Same as ARTH 4139 and CLAS 4139 and CLAS 5139.
  • ARTH 5159 - Hellenistic Art and Archaeology
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2021 / Fall 2023
    Examines art and archaeology from the period following the death of Alexander the Great (late fourth century B.C.E.) to the conquest of Greece by the Romans (middle second century B.C.E.). Same as CLAS 5159.
  • CLAS 2029 - Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2018
    Emphasizes the origin of the Egyptian culture, its importance and its impact on other cultures. In addition, the different points of view of various scholars are discussed with a comparative study of the ancient Egyptian culture and modern culture of Egypt and the Middle East. Same as ARTH 2029. Formerly ANTH 1160.
  • CLAS 2039 - Greek Art and Archaeology
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Spring 2022
    Covers prehistoric Aegean through the fourth century B.C.E., considering architecture, pottery, painting, sculpture and personal ornament. Societal customs such as use of space and burial patterns are considered as well as art and its uses, to help understand developments in Greek culture. Same as ARTH 2039. Formerly CLAS 3039.
  • CLAS 3119 - The Archaeology of Death
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2022 / Spring 2024
    Consider Death. It is a universal human phenomenon. Humans across time and space have caused, planned for, reacted to, and carried out death practices in extraordinarily different ways. Mortuary practice provides a fascinating insight into human history and culture in both the modern and ancient world. Same as ANTH 3119.
  • CLAS 4099 - Ancient Greek Sculpture
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2019 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2023
    Understanding that Greek sculpture, like all visual media, was part of the fabric of ancient Greek life and expressed the values of its creators and audience is a valuable way to gain insights into the social, economic, and political world of ancient Greece. This course will examine the work of Greek sculptors from the Archaic to the Hellenistic period. Key stylistic and technical developments, as well as significant works of art, sculptors and workshops will be discussed in detail. Some issues we will consider are the physical, religious and/or socio-historical context of individual freestanding sculptures and how specific sculptural programs illustrate aspects of Greek culture. Iconographic and narrative choices made by artists working in stone, compared to other material, will also be addressed. Same as CLAS 5099, ARTH 4099 and ARTH 5099.
  • CLAS 4139 - Greek Vase Painting
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2020 / Fall 2022
    A comprehensive overview of Greek vase painting, from prehistoric through the fourth century B.C.E. Emphasis is on learning the development of primary decorative styles and on refining skills of visual analysis, scholarly research, critical thinking, oral commentary and written presentation. Same as CLAS 5139 and ARTH 4139 and ARTH 5139.
  • CLAS 4149 - Greek Cities and Sanctuaries
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2022
    Examines Greek architecture in context, from the ninth century B.C.E. into the Hellenistic period, considering the use of space, both in religious and in civic settings and using texts as well as material culture. Emphasis is on developing analytical skills. Same as CLAS 5149 and ARTH 4149.
  • CLAS 4169 - Topics in Ancient and Classical Art and Archaeology
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2023
    In-depth consideration of an aspect of ancient Mediterranean culture. Topics vary and may include ancient wall painting, Greek sculpture, artists and patrons, the ancient Near East, Egyptian art and archaeology, or Etruscan art and archaeology. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours providing the topics are different. Same as CLAS 5169 and ARTH 4169 and ARTH 5169.
  • CLAS 4852 - Honors Thesis
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2024
    -
  • CLAS 5099 - Ancient Greek Sculpture
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2019 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2023
    Understanding the Greek sculpture, like all visual media, was part of the fabric of ancient Greek life and expressed the values of its creators and audience is a valuable way to gain insights into the social, economic, and political world of ancient Greece. This course will examine the work of Greek sculptors from the Archaic to the Hellenistic period. Key stylistic and technical developments, as well as significant works of art, sculptors and workshops will be discussed in detail. Some issues we will consider are the physical, religious and/or socio-historical context of individual freestanding sculptures and how specific sculptural programs illustrate aspects of Greek culture. Iconographic and narrative choices made by artists working in stone, compared to other material, will also be addressed. Same as CLAS 4099, ARTH 4099 and ARTH 5099.
  • CLAS 5139 - Greek Vase Painting
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2020 / Fall 2022
    A comprehensive overview of Greek vase painting, from prehistoric through the fourth century B.C.E. Emphasis is on learning the development of primary decorative styles and on refining skills of visual analysis, scholarly research, critical thinking, oral commentary and written presentation. Same as CLAS 4139 and ARTH 4139 and ARTH 5139.
  • CLAS 5149 - Greek Cities and Sanctuaries
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2022
    Examines Greek architecture in context, from the ninth century B.C.E. into the Hellenistic period, considering the use of space, both in religious and in civic settings and using texts as well as material culture. Emphasis is on developing analytical skills. Same as CLAS 4149 and ARTH 4149.
  • CLAS 5159 - Hellenistic Art and Archaeology
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2023
    Examines art and archaeology from the period following the death of Alexander the Great (late fourth century B.C.E.) to the conquest of Greece by the Romans (middle second century B.C.E.). Same as ARTH 5159.
  • CLAS 7109 - Graduate Seminar in Ancient and Classical Art and Archaeology
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2024
    Topics vary. Emphasis is on gaining expertise in using archaeological reports in tandem with (or contradiction to) textual sources, on reading and using critical theory, on improving analytical skills and discussion, and on honing discussion leadership abilities. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours providing the topics are different.

Background

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