Lucarini, G., Bokbot, Y., Wilkinson, T., Benattia, H., Bigoulimen, A., Brucato, A., Cygan, M., Farr, L., Hachami, H., Kiriatzi, E., Laoutari, R., Lombardi, L., Matsilio, A., Martinez Sanchez, R., Mazzini, I., Morales, J., Muti, G., Pelegrin, J., Radi, M., Rega, FM. and Broodbank, C.,
2026 (Accepted for publication).
Expanding Oued Beht: Final Neolithic, Bronze Age, medieval and later discoveries from excavation and survey in 2023
Libyan Studies,
Biography
I was born and bred in London. As an undergraduate at Oxford I studied History and received an education in archaeology from Andrew Sherratt. I took an MA in Aegean and Anatolian Prehistory at Bristol, and first came to Cambridge in 1987 to start a PhD with John Cherry. I returned briefly to Oxford as a Junior Research Fellow in 1991, and from 1993 spent twenty years at UCL’s Institute of Archaeology, starting as Lecturer in Aegean Archaeology and ending as Professor of Mediterranean Archaeology. In 2014 I returned to Cambridge to take up my current position. In 2015 I was elected a Fellow of the British Academy. I have held visiting fellowships at All Souls, Oxford, and at institutions in the US. My books have won the Runciman Prize, James R. Wiseman Prize, Wolfson History Prize and Premio Nonino. I am married with two young children.
Research
I see archaeology as a form of deep history, as the best way of understanding the global experience of humankind over time and why we are where we are today. My interests are therefore broad, comparative and not period-specific. My first grounding was in the Aegean, where I have been centrally involved in a project on the island of Kythera for the last twenty years. The Aegean, not least as an in-between place in spatial, analytical and interpretative terms, taught me the value of theory, material culture study, landscape archaeology, archaeological science, comparison and connectivity. From there my interests led outwards to island archaeology world-wide and to the overall early history of the Mediterranean, itself a space that brings together Europe, Africa and Asia. My most recent projects explore the long-term dynamics of Mediterranean Africa, and the archaeology of politics and urban life through the lens of fieldwork on Iron Age to Roman Kythera. I have a long-term interest in trans-Eurasian cultural processes and in the scope for an archaeology of oceanic connectivity.
Key Publications
Broodbank, C. and G. Lucarini 2019. ‘Mediterranean Africa, 9600-1000 BC: an interpretive synthesis of knowns and unknowns’ Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology 32, 2.
Broodbank, C. 2018. ‘Does island archaeology matter?’, in A. Knodell and T. Leppard (eds.) Regional Approaches to Social Complexity; Studies in Honour of John F. Cherry, 188-206. Sheffield: Equinox.
Broodbank, C. 2013. The Making of the Middle Sea: A History of the Mediterranean from the Beginning to the Threshold of the Classical World. London: Thames and Hudson.
Broodbank, C. 2010. ‘“Ships a-sail from over the rim of the sea”: voyaging, sailing and the making of Mediterranean societies c. 3500-500 BC’, in A. Anderson, J.H. Barrett and K. Boyle (eds.) The Global Origins of Seafaring (McDonald Institute Monographs), 249-64. Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research.
Broodbank, C. and E. Kiriatzi 2007. ‘The first “Minoans” of Kythera re-visited: technology, demography and landscape in the pre-palatial Aegean’, American Journal of Archaeology 111: 241-74.
Broodbank, C. 2007. ‘The pottery’, in C. Renfrew, C. Doumas, L. Marangou and G. Gavalas (eds.), Keros, Dhaskalio Kavos: The Investigations of 1987-88 (McDonald Institute Monographs), 115-237. Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research.
Broodbank, C. 2006. ‘The origins and early development of Mediterranean maritime activity’, Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology 19: 199-230.
Broodbank, C. 2004. ‘Minoanisation’, Proceedings of the Cambridge Philological Society 50: 46-91.
Broodbank, C. 2000. An Island Archaeology of the Early Cyclades. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Broodbank, C. 1989. ‘The longboat and society in the Cyclades in the Keros-Syros culture’, American Journal of Archaeology 93: 319-37.
Publication
2026 (Accepted for publication)
2025 (Accepted for publication)
Broodbank, C.,
2025 (Accepted for publication).
Obituary: Colin Renfrew (1937-2024)
Nature,
v. 638
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-00220-1
2025
Benattia, H., Bokbot, Y., Onrubia-Pintado, J., Benerradi, M., Bougariane, B., Bouhamidi, B., Carballo-Pérez, J., Echcherif-Baamrani, O., Elqably, A., Ghayati, N., Hachami, H., Kbiri-Alaoui, M., Lazarescu, R., Lombardi, L., Lucarini, G., Martínez-Sánchez, RM., Mateu-Sagés, M., Menéndez-Molist, P., Montero-Ruiz, I., Ouakrim, Z., Pérez-Jordà, G., Radi, M., Ramon-Torres, J., Sobrevia-Corral, E., Touri, T. and Broodbank, C.,
2025.
Rethinking late prehistoric Mediterranean Africa: architecture, farming and materiality at Kach Kouch, Morocco
Antiquity,
v. 99
Doi: http://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2025.10
2024 (Accepted for publication)
Broodbank, C., Lucarini, G., Bokbot, Y., Benattia, H., Bigoulimen, A., Farr, L., Garcia-Molsosa, A., Hachami, H., Laoutari, R., Lombardi, L., Marsilio, A., Martin, L., Morales, J., Radi, M., Rega, FM. and Wilkinson, T.,
2024 (Accepted for publication).
Oued Beht, Morocco: A new complex early farming society in northwest Africa and its implications for western Mediterranean interaction during later prehistory
Antiquity,
Doi: http://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2024.101
2022 (Accepted for publication)
Leppard, TP., Cochrane, EE., Gaffney, D., Hofman, CL., Laffoon, JE., Bunbury, MME. and Broodbank, C.,
2022 (Accepted for publication).
Global Patterns in Island Colonization during the Holocene
Journal of World Prehistory,
2022
Leppard, TP., Cochrane, EE., Gaffney, D., Hofman, CL., Laffoon, JE., Bunbury, MME. and Broodbank, C.,
2022.
Global Patterns in Island Colonization during the Holocene
Journal of World Prehistory,
v. 35
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1007/s10963-022-09168-w
2021
Lucarini, G., Bokbot, Y. and Broodbank, C.,
2021.
New Light on the Silent Millennia: Mediterranean Africa, ca. 4000–900 BC
African Archaeological Review,
v. 38
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1007/s10437-020-09411-9
2020
Broodbank, C. and Lucarini, G.,
2020.
The Dynamics of Mediterranean Africa, ca. 9600–1000 bc: An Interpretative Synthesis of Knowns and Unknowns
Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology,
v. 32
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1558/jma.40581
Lucarini, G., Wilkinson, T., Crema, ER., Palombini, A., Bevan, A. and Broodbank, C.,
2020.
The MedAfriCarbon Radiocarbon Database and Web Application. Archaeological Dynamics in Mediterranean Africa, ca. 9600–700 BC
Journal of Open Archaeology Data,
v. 8
Doi: http://doi.org/10.5334/joad.60
2019
Cheddadi, R., Palmisano, A., López-Sáez, JA., Nourelbait, M., Zielhofer, C., Tabel, J., Rhoujjati, A., Khater, C., Woodbridge, J., Lucarini, G., Broodbank, C., Fletcher, WJ. and Roberts, CN.,
2019.
Human demography changes in Morocco and environmental imprint during the Holocene
Holocene,
v. 29
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1177/0959683619826657
2018 (Accepted for publication)
Radivojevic, M., Roberts, B., Pernicka, E., Stos-Gale, Z., Martinon-Torres, M., Rehren, T., Bray, P., Brandherm, D., Ling, J., Mei, J., Vandkilde, H., Kristiansen, K., Shennan, S. and Broodbank, C.,
2018 (Accepted for publication).
The Provenance, Use and Circulation of Metals in the European Bronze Age: The state of debate
Journal of Archaeological Research,
v. 27
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1007/s10814-018-9123-9
2015
Broodbank, C.,
2015.
THE MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT
The Classical Review,
v. 65
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1017/s0009840x1400198x
Broodbank, C.,
2015.
Should we worry about migrants targeting Europe?
BBC History Magazine,
2014 (Published online)
Broodbank, C.,
2014 (Published online).
So... What? Does the Paradigm Currently Want to Budge So Much?
Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology,
v. 27
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1558/jmea.v27i2.267
Broodbank, C., Barker, G., Foxhall, L. and Manning, S.,
2014 (Published online).
Reviewing Cyprian Broodbank’s The Making of the Middle Sea: A History of the Mediterranean from the Beginning to the Emergence of the Classical World (London: Thames & Hudson, 2013)
Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology,
v. 27
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1558/jmea.v27i1.101
Broodbank, C., Galanidou, N., Leppard, TP., Phoca-Cosmetatou, N., Rabett, RJ. and Runnels, C.,
2014 (Published online).
Discussion and Debate
Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology,
v. 27
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1558/jmea.v27i2.255
2014
Broodbank, C.,
2014.
So ...what? Does the paradigm currently want to budge that much?
Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology,
v. 27
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1558/jmea.v27i2.255
Broodbank, C.,
2014.
Making in the making
Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology,
v. 27
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1558/jmea.v27i1.101
Broodbank, C.,
2014.
Back to the (Early) Mediterranean
JOURNAL OF MEDITERRANEAN ARCHAEOLOGY,
v. 27
2013
Broodbank, C.,
2013.
“Minding the Gap”: Thinking About Change in Early Cycladic Island Societies from a Comparative Perspective
American Journal of Archaeology,
v. 117
Doi: http://doi.org/10.3764/aja.117.4.0535
PETERS, M.,
2013.
THE MYCENAEAN SEMINAR 2011–12 – SPINNING A COMMUNICATIONS WEB: MEDIA INTERACTIVITY AND THE POLITICAL MANAGEMENT OF MYCENAEAN MESSENIA
Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies,
v. 56
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.2041-5370.2013.00054.x
2008
Broodbank, C.,
2008.
Not Waving but Drowning
The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology,
v. 3
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1080/15564890801990771
2007
Broodbank, C. and Kiriatzi, E.,
2007.
The First "Minoans" of Kythera Revisited: Technology, Demography, and Landscape in the Prepalatial Aegean
American Journal of Archaeology,
v. 111
Doi: http://doi.org/10.3764/aja.111.2.241
Broodbank, C., Rehren, T. and Zianni, A-M.,
2007.
Scientific Analysis of Metal Objects and Metallurgical Remains from Kastri, Kythera 1
The Annual of the British School at Athens,
v. 102
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1017/s006824540002147x
2006 (Published online)
Broodbank, C.,
2006 (Published online).
The Origins and Early Development of Mediterranean Maritime Activity
Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology,
v. 19
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1558//jmea.2006.v19i2.199
2004
Broodbank, C.,
2004.
Minoanisation
Proceedings of the Cambridge Philological Society,
v. 50
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1017/s006867350000105x
2000 (Published online)
Broodbank, C.,
2000 (Published online).
The Insularity of Island Archaeologists: Comments on Rainbird's 'Islands out of Time'
Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology,
v. 12
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1558/jmea.v12i2.29972
2000
Broodbank, C.,
2000.
Perspectives on an Early Bronze Age Island Centre: An Analysis of Pottery from Daskaleio‐Kavos (Keros) in the Cyclades
Oxford Journal of Archaeology,
v. 19
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0092.00113
1999 (Published online)
Broodbank, C.,
1999 (Published online).
Island dynamics and Minoan expansion in the Aegean: the Kythera Island Project
Archaeology International,
v. 3
Doi: http://doi.org/10.5334/ai.0308
1999
Broodbank, C.,
1999.
Kythera Survey: preliminary report on the 1998 season 1
The Annual of the British School at Athens,
v. 94
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1017/s0068245400000575
1997
Broodbank, C.,
1997.
A Greek countryside: The southern argolid from prehistory to the present day - Jameson,MH, Runnels,CN, VanAndel,TH
JOURNAL OF FIELD ARCHAEOLOGY,
v. 24
Broodbank, C.,
1997.
Artifact & assemblage: The finds from a regional survey of the southern Argolid, Greece, vol 1, The prehistoric & early iron age pottery and the lithic artifacts - Runnels,CH, Pullen,DJ, Langdon,S
JOURNAL OF FIELD ARCHAEOLOGY,
v. 24
1994
BROODBANK, C.,
1994.
IMAGINED ISLANDS - CULTURAL PERCEPTIONS OF LANDSCAPE AND SEASCAPE IN THE CYCLADIC ARCHIPELAGO DURING PREHISTORY AND PROTOHISTORY
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY,
v. 98
1993
Broodbank, C.,
1993.
Ulysses without sails: Trade, distance, knowledge and power in the early Cyclades
World Archaeology,
v. 24
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1080/00438243.1993.9980211
Broodbank, C., Myers, JW., Myers, EE. and Cadogan, G.,
1993.
The Aerial Atlas of Ancient Crete
Journal of Field Archaeology,
v. 20
Doi: http://doi.org/10.2307/530062
1992 (Published online)
Broodbank, C.,
1992 (Published online).
The Neolithic Labyrinth
Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology,
v. 5
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1558/jmea.v5i1.39
1992
Broodbank, C.,
1992.
‘The spirit is willing’ (review article of C. Renfrew The Cycladic
Spirit),
Antiquity,
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1017/S0003598X00081722
Broodbank, C.,
1992.
The spirit is willing
Antiquity,
v. 66
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1017/s0003598x00081722
BROODBANK, C.,
1992.
COLONIZATION AND CULTURE IN THE NEOLITHIC AND EARLY BRONZE-AGE CYCLADES
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY,
v. 96
1991
Broodbank, C. and Strasser, TF.,
1991.
Migrant farmers and the Neolithic colonization of Crete
Antiquity,
v. 65
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1017/s0003598x00079680
1989
Broodbank, C.,
1989.
The Longboat and Society in the Cyclades in the Keros-Syros Culture
American Journal of Archaeology,
v. 93
Doi: http://doi.org/10.2307/505584
2024
Brudenell, M.,
2024.
Chapter 15 - The pottery (Must Farm pile-dwelling settlement: Volume 2. Specialist reports)
2018
Broodbank, C.,
2018.
Does island archaeology matter?
2016 (No publication date)
Broodbank, C.,
2016 (No publication date).
The transmitting sea
Broodbank, C.,
2016 (No publication date).
The uniqueness of Mediterranean prehistory
2016
Broodbank, C.,
2016.
The Transmitting Sea: A Mediterranean Perspective
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1017/9781316536063.003
2014
Broodbank, C. and Kiriatzi, E.,
2014.
Pottery mobility, landscape survey and maritime activity: a view from Kythera
Broodbank, C.,
2014.
Mediterranean Prehistory
Broodbank, C.,
2014.
Afterword
2011
Broodbank, C.,
2011.
The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean world in the age of Andrew Sherratt
2010
Broodbank, C.,
2010.
Braudel's Bronze Age
Broodbank, C.,
2010.
'Ships a-sail from over the rim of the sea': voyaging, sailing and the making of Mediterranean societies c. 3500-500 BC
2009
Broodbank, C.,
2009.
The Mediterranean and its Hinterland
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199271016.013.0023
Broodbank, C. and Kiriatzi, E.,
2009.
The Kythera Island Project by the British School at Athens: aims, methodologies and preliminary results’,
2008
Broodbank, C.,
2008.
Long after hippos, well before palaces: a commentary on the cultures and contexts of Neolithic Crete
Broodbank, C.,
2008.
The Early Bronze Age in the Cyclades
Doi: http://doi.org/10.1017/ccol9780521814447.003
Broodbank, C.,
2008.
The Early Bronze Age in the Cyclades
2005
Broodbank, C., Kiriatzi, E., Rutter, JB. and Sherratt, ES.,
2005.
From the pharoah's feet to the slave-women of Pylos? The history and cultural dynamics of Kythera in the third palace Period
v. 1432
2004
Broodbank, C.,
2004.
Aphrodite observed: insularity and antiquities on Kythera through outsiders’ eyes
2000
Broodbank, C.,
2000.
Colonization and configuration in the insular Neolithic of the Aegean
2024
Broodbank, C.,
2024.
The Making of the Middle Sea
2014
Renfrew, C.,
2014.
THE MAKING OF THE MIDDLE SEA A history of the Mediterranean from the beginning to the emergence of the classical world
2000
Broodbank, C.,
2000.
An Island Archaeology of the Early Cyclades
Teaching and Supervisions
I currently teach mainly on the paper A1 — World Archaeology
Since 1994 I have been lead or secondary supervisor for some 45 PhD students, across a range of subjects, approaches and regions of the world. Almost all those students completed successfully, and many are in post today. I am currently particularly interested in supervising topics within the deep history and archaeology of the Mediterranean, the Aegean, and globally of islands and oceans, but am equally open to other compelling suggestions.
Recently completed Cambridge PhD students:
Current research students:
Other Professional Activities
I have a long association (since 1983) with the British School at Athens, through which I co-direct (with Dr Evangelia Kiriatzi) the Kythera Island Project. I am a Fellow of the British Academy and of the Society of Antiquaries, as well as a Corresponding Member of the Archaeological Institute of America. I currently also advise the publishing house Thames & Hudson.