08/07/2019
POST DOC: The ERC-funded "Desert Networks – Into the Eastern Desert of Egypt from the New Kingdom to the Roman period" project (ERC-StG n. 759078; https://desertnetworks.hypotheses.org/) seeks a postdoctoral scholar for an 18 month position with the possibility of extension to two years for a research project focused on the material and economic networks of the Eastern Desert of Egypt. The topic under consideration is described below along with general guidelines for the applicant and details about the position. Application materials can be submitted through the CNRS portal where additional details can also be found. The deadline for submission of applications is AUGUST 20, 2019 and start date is October 15, although this can be adjusted according to the needs of the candidate, if need be:
ENGLISH: https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR5189-BERRED-004/Default.aspx?lang=EN
FRENCH: https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR5189-BERRED-004/Default.aspx
Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Jennifer Gates-Foster, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ([email protected])
Project Description:
Graffiti and rock inscriptions, movement and the "inscribed landscape": Travelers have left graffiti, both textual and figural, across the Eastern Desert throughout its history. This informal writing and pictorial representation played an important but poorly understood role as a landmark and point of reference in the desert landscape by indicating the location of resources, sacred places and creating a dialogue between travelers, sometimes across millennia. Previous studies of these modest inscriptions have considered these texts independently of the landscape and as historically specific. As part of this contract, you will make an inventory of all graffiti and rock inscriptions dated from the New Kingdom to Roman times in the study area of the ERC Desert Networks project, as well as official inscriptions left by the administration in the region. In coordination with the research team, including the technical team that created the project GIS, you will develop tools to analyze the role of inscriptions and representations engraved in the landscape of the Eastern Desert from the New Kingdom until the Roman era. You will also study the social motivation behind these acts as well as the link between graffiti and rock inscriptions (their position, how they are composed and presented to travelers) and natural resources, including the particular topography of the desert, as well as other remains (wells, forts, cairns, but also material culture, such as ceramics) built or left behind by desert travelers.
This postdoctoral fellowship will be held under the joint supervision of Dr. Jennifer Gates-Foster (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA, responsible of the Workpackage 4 of the ERC project) and Dr. Bérangère Redon (CNRS, Laboratoire HiSoMA, PI of the ERC project). Besides working on the inventory, location and analysis of the graffiti and inscriptions of the Eastern desert he/she will also be expected to actively contribute to the scholarly activities of the research group (such as populating the Desert Networks-database, jointly organizing a conference, participating in joint publications, etc.). He/she will live in Lyon but regularly visit Chapel Hill (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), and work closely together with the other team members, particularly with the supervisor of the work package dedicated to the economic networks, Dr. Jennifer Gates-Foster. Periodic work with the ERC team in Egypt at sites in the Eastern Desert is also expected.
Applicants are expected to hold a doctoral degree in Classics, Ancient History or Archaeology). In order to be eligible, applicants must have obtained their degree at the time of application or demonstrate that they will have that degree in hand by the fall of 2019. Applicants should be fluent in English and have good reading skills of the other languages relevant to the field (German, French, Italian). Facility in Ancient Greek is also required and Demotic Egyptian desirable. Research outcomes will be written in English. There are no restrictions on the candidate's nationality.
