Dr Matthew Ponting BA, PhD

Senior Lecturer Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology

    Research

    Research Interest 1

    Ancient metalwork; materials and technology
    Archaeological materials and their investigation and analysis.
    Ancient coinage
    Roman archaeology
    Classical and Medieval Near East

    Research Grants

    The Athlit ram revisited: technical metallurgical and provenance analysis coupled with surface mapping and 3D modeling of the ram and its timbers

    HONOR FROST FOUNDATION (UK)

    October 2016 - June 2019

    RACOM Rome and the Coinages of the Mediterranean: 200 BC to AD 64

    EUROPEAN COMMISSION

    September 2019 - August 2024

    An economy in chaos? Analysis of Roman silver coins, Nero to Septimus Severus.

    ARTS AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL (AHRC)

    March 2006 - February 2009

    2000 years of cross-cultural interaction: scientific analysis of the non-ferrous metal artefects from the excavations of the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.

    ANGLO-ISRAEL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY (UK)

    March 2005 - May 2007

    Investigate the extraction of lead in Iron Age and Roman Somerset and its possible link with silver production

    SOMERSET ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

    March 2008 - March 2009

    The British archaeological project at the Iron Age emporium of Vetren-Pistiros, Bulgaria.

    BRITISH ACADEMY (UK)

    June 2005 - August 2006

    A third century crisis? The composition and metallurgy of Roman silver coinage: Septimius Severus to Valerian and Gallienus.

    ARTS AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL (AHRC)

    October 2014 - September 2018

    Research Collaborations

    Dr. Dan Levine

    External: University of Southampton

    The relationship between the scientific (archaeometallurgical) and textual sources for information about the manufacture and use copper-alloy artefacts in ancient societies.

    Prof. Chris Howgego

    External: The University of Oxford

    Research into the coinage of Alexandria in Egypt during the Antonine period.

    Dr. Simon James

    External: University of Leicester

    Joint application to BA for funding to investigate Roman military metalwork from Dura Europos, Syria.

    Dr. Oren Tal

    External: Tel Aviv University

    Study of Philistian silver coinage.

    Prof. Kevin Butcher

    External: University of Warwick

    Research into the composition of Roman Imperial silver coins.

    Dr. Steven Minnitt

    External: Somerset County Museum Service

    Lead isotope analysis of lead artefacts from Meare and Glastonbury Lake Villages.

    Dr. L. Barham

    Internal

    Study of 18th century glass trade beads from Zambia.

    Chris Somerfield

    External: University of Nottingham

    Development of improved ICP-AES analysis techniques for silver-based alloys.

    Haim Gitler

    External: Israel Museum, Jerusalem

    Study of the coinage of Septimius Severus.
    Study of Fatimid coin dies.
    Study of Ptolomaic minting techniques.
    Study of Philistian silver coinage.