Adam DiBattista Awarded Visiting Research Scholar Position from ISAW

Adam DiBattista, who will receive his PhD from the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology this spring, has been awarded a visiting research scholar position from the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at New York University. The one-year position will begin in the fall of 2021.

The Institute for the Study of the Ancient World (ISAW) is a center for advanced scholarly research and graduate education which particularly aims to encourage the study of the economic, religious, political, and cultural connections between ancient civilizations. It offers both doctoral and postdoctoral programs, with the goal of training a new generation of scholars to enter the global academic community and become intellectual leaders.

For DiBattista, this as an ideal choice because of the outstanding institutions in New York City, their location near his home in New Jersey, as well as for the emphasis of the institute on communication between scholars. “One of the great things about the ISAW is that they are really interested in this idea of intercultural exchange, which is a major passion of mine as well,” he explained. Although part of New York University, the program is housed in a different area of New York City, with professors hired primarily for the ISAW. He is hoping to work on his monograph on the archaeology of objects made of worked material of animal origin, which will act as a guide for people in all areas of the discipline, including students and teachers, on how to interpret objects that are found in archaeologic contexts and are made from materials such as bone, antler, and ivory. Being close to such institutions as the Metropolitan Museum hopefully also will give him access to collections of such objects.

“I would really like to start to draft a larger work that incorporates elements of both my dissertation, as well as new research,” DiBattista said. “I know there are at least two graduate students at ISAW who share a similar interest in the connections between the Greek world and the Near East, in addition to a well-known scholar who works in this area and whose research interests are in the crossroads aspect of the Greek world. I hope to work with people who have an interest in interconnection generally and in the time period and region,” he added.

DiBattista has done extensive fieldwork with Sarah Morris and John Papadopoulous on the Ancient Methone Archaeological Project in Greece, focusing on worked animal materials.

DiBattista admits that he was unfamiliar with ISAW until he saw the call for applications for the research scholar position. Once he looked into it, he decided that he had to apply. “I am feeling very, very lucky. It is really a community effort,” he explained. “You have wonderful people at the Cotsen Institute who have your back, who will look at your application, and are ready with letters of recommendation.” The only downside, he said, is that he feels like he now gets to “carry the banner” of the institute. “The pressure is on to be a good scholar,” he added.