Dr Rafael Laoutari

My BA (2017) in History and Archaeology is from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and my MPhil (2018) in Archaeology from the University of Cambridge, while I recently completed my PhD (2023) in the latter university. I am a core member of the Being an Islander research project as well as the Qued Beht and the Kissonerga-Skalia Archaeological Projects. My specialisation is in the study of ceramics, metal and mortuary practices from Prehistoric Bronze Age Cyprus (ca.2500-1750BCE).

My thesis focused on diverse datasets for obtaining material and behavioural signatures for exploring the social dynamics and connectivity in Prehistoric Bronze Age Cyprus. As a research associate, I will continue working to improve our social understanding of this period, through the study of legacy and newly excavated Cypriot material, while I will also explore the technological and behavioural choices of potters, based on the systematic analysis of ceramics from Qued Beht.