Matthew Notarian, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Classics, Director of Study Abroad
Contact
Matthew Notarian is a Roman archaeologist specializing in the social history of ancient Italy and digital archaeology. He was a fellow of the American Academy in Rome and an exchange fellow of the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa. He regularly conducts archaeological fieldwork with student participation in Italy, most recently with the Villa di Vergigno (Montelupo Fiorentino, Italy) and the Upper Sabina Tiberina Project (Vacone, Italy). He is also an advocate for study abroad in higher education, and has led Hiram students to Greece and Italy. Before Hiram, he taught at Tulane University and Johns Hopkins University. Charged with reinvigorating Hiram’s Classics program, he teaches a wide variety of courses related to the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, including Latin, ancient history, classical archaeology and numerous topical classes. He also enjoys exploring innovative teaching practices such as historical role-playing games and the use of VR and 3D technology in the classroom.
Education
- B.A., University of Delaware
- M.A., University at Buffalo
- Ph.D., University at Buffalo
Research Interests
Matthew’s research focuses upon Roman urbanism and Roman social history, as well as the socio-economic function of Roman villas. His recent work delves into digital archaeology, exploring the contributions of computational methods and tools, such as GIS, photogrammetry, 3D modeling, and network analysis, towards reconstructing and analyzing the Roman past. He also maintains interests in epigraphy (study of inscriptions), numismatics (study of coins), historiography and antiquarianism. He has participated in fieldwork on a number of projects in Italy and Greece, and has traveled broadly in Europe, North Africa and Turkey to explore Roman material culture.
Selected Publications
- Notarian, M. (editor). 2020. Special Issue on 3D Methodologies in Mediterranean Archaeology. Studies in Digital Heritage 4.2.
- Notarian, M., D. Bloy, and G.D. Farney. 2016. “Forgery and the Antiquarian Tradition: The Identification of Horace’s Sabine Villa at Vacone.” Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome 61: 41-58.
- Bloy, D., G. Masci, C. Rice, T. Franconi, G. D. Farney, and M. Notarian. 2016. “The Upper Sabina Tiberina Project: i risultati della seconda campagna di scavo a Vacone (Rieti).” In Lazio e Sabina 11, edited by G. Ghini, Z. Mari and A. Russo Tagliente. Roma: Quasar.
- Notarian, M. 2015. “The Ancient Roman Villa of Vacone.” Popular Archaeology 21 (Winter 2015/2016). Link: http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/winter-2015-2016/article/the-ancient-roman-villa-of-vacone
- Bloy, D., G. Masci, G. D. Farney, and M. Notarian. 2014. “The Upper Sabina Tiberina Project: prima campagna di scavo a Vacone (2012).” In Lazio e Sabina 10, edited by E. Calandra, G. Ghini and Z. Mari, 57-62. Roma: Quasar.
- Notarian, M. 2012. “Tusculum.” In The Encyclopedia of Ancient History, edited by R. Bagnall, K. Brodersen, C. Champion, A. Erskine, S. Hübner. Wiley-Blackwell.
Fun Facts
- Teaches the Ancient World in Film (e.g. Gladiator and 300) and Reacting to the Past (Historical Role-Playing Games)
- Team-Teaching INTD Study Abroad to Italy in Spring 2022 3-week
