Dr Matthew Ponting BA, PhD, FSA

Research Overview

Matthews research focusses on the detailed examination of archaeological finds made of inorganic materials using a variety of scientific methods to inform us about people in the past; why, where and how these fascinating objects were made. His main field of expertise is non-ferrous metals, and it was the investigation of irregular Roman coins made of copper-alloys that formed the basis of his doctoral thesis (UCL 1994). The investigation of ancient coinage has continued to be a major research area since 1994, when Matthew teamed-up with Numismatist and Ancient Historian, Kevin Butcher, to study Roman silver coinage. Nearly thirty years and four significant research grants later (Leverhulme Trust, two three year AHRC research grants and now a five year ERC Horizon 2020 grant) Matthew and Kevin continue to collaborate, currently looking at the origins of Roman silver coinage through the analyses of Hellenistic and Roman Republican coinage. Collaborations with the keepers of some of the great coin collections in the world, including the British Museum, Yale University Museum and Art Gallery, Princeton University, Munzekabinett Winterthur and The National Museum of Denmark, as well as local Museum Services throughout the UK has allowed the sampling and analysis of some 8000 coins, some of which are already accessible through the Archaeology Data Service. The first of a series of monographs has been published by Cambridge University Press and papers continue to be written for a variety of International academic journals.
The investigation of the development and changes in the manufacture and use of copper-alloys in the Levant from the Hellenistic to the Early Islamic period is the other main research theme pursued by Matthew, begining with his post-doctoral research on the Roman military metalwork from Masada and Gamla in Israel. How cultural interactions were reflected in the choices made by different peoples about the metals they selected for their tools and decorative objects provides valuable insights into attitudes and biases that are particularly informative at times of significant social and cultural change.