Prof. Gwyn DAVIES

Current Syllabus

Code:	Title:	Information:
EUH 3400	Greek History	Readings:
EUH 4408 (U01)	The Age of Alexander	Course outline and Grade Scale
EUH 6932/6933 (U01); EUH 5905 (U01)	Graduate Research seminar: World War 1	Course outline and Grade Scale

 

Roman siege ramp at Masada, Israel

Yotvata Roman fort

Publications in Discipline:

Books

• Davies, G. & Magness, J. 2015. The 2003-2007 Excavations in the Late Roman Fort at Yotvata. Eisenbrauns: Winona Lake, IN.
• Davies, G. 2006. Roman Siege Works. Tempus: Stroud.
• Davies, G., Gardner, A. & Lockyear, K. (eds.). 2001. Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference, London 2000. Oxbow: Oxford.

Articles

• Davies, G. 2020. 'I will lay waste your cities, and you will become a desolation'. Insurgency and counter-insurgency in Judaea. Small Wars and Insurgencies. 31:5, 1080-1107.
• Davies, G. 2017. 'Shock and awe' a la romana: La artillería legionaria en el siglo II d. c. Desperta Ferro (Especiales). 13, 12-18.
• Davies, G. & Magness, J. 2017. Recovering Josephus: Mason's History of the Jewish War and the Siege of Masada. Scripta Classica Israelica. 36, 55-65.
• Davies, G. & Magness, J. 2014. Addendum to "The Roman Fort at Yotvata: a Valentinianic Foundation?" Journal of Roman Archaeology. 27, 356.
• Davies, G. 2014. The Masada Siege - from the Roman Viewpoint. Biblical Archaeology Review. 40.4, 26-32, 70-71.
• Davies, G. 2014.  Dramatico Final: los asedios de Maqueronte y Masada. Desperta Ferro (Antigua y Medieval). 23, 26-32.
• Davies, G. & Magness, J. 2013. Was a Roman Cohort Stationed at Ein Gedi? Scripta Classica Israelica. 32, 195-199.
• Davies, G. & Magness, J. 2011. The Roman Fort at Yotvata: a foundation under Valens? Journal of Roman Archaeology. 24, 469-480.
• Davies, G. 2011. Under Siege: the Roman Field Works at Masada. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research. 362, 65-83.
• Davies, G. & Magness, J. 2008. The Roman Fort at Yotvata, 2007. Israel Exploration Journal. 58.1, 103-112.
• Davies, G. & Magness, J. 2008. Yotvata-2007, Excavations and Surveys in Israel (Hadashot Arkheologiyot). 120, online
• Davies, G. & Magness, J. 2007. The Roman Fort at Yotvata, 2006. Israel Exploration Journal. 57.1, 106-114.
• Davies, G. & Magness, J. 2007. Yotvata-2006, Excavations and Surveys in Israel (Hadashot Arkheologiyot). 119, online
• Davies, G. & Magness, J. 2006. The Roman Fort at Yotvata, 2005. Israel Exploration Journal. 56.1, 105-110.
• Davies, G. & Magness, J. 2006. Yotvata-2005. Excavations and Surveys in Israel (Hadashot Arkheologiyot). 118, online
• Avner, U., Davies, G. & Magness, J. 2005. The 2003-2004 Excavations at the Roman Fort at Yotvata. Jahrbuch des Deutschen Evangelischen Instituts für Altertumswissenschaft des Heiligen Landes. Band 9/10, 198-199.
• Davies, G. & Magness, J. 2005. The Roman Fort at Yotvata, 2004. Israel Exploration Journal. 55.2, 227-230.
• Davies, G. & Magness, J. 2005. Yotvata – 2004. Excavations and Surveys in Israel (Hadashot Arkheologiyot). 117, online
• Avner, U., Davies, G. & Magness, J. 2005. Yotvata – 2003. Excavations and Surveys in Israel (Hadashot Arkheologiyot). 117, online
• Avner, U., Davies, G. & Magness, J. 2004. Excavations at the Late Roman Fort at Yotvata, Arava. Israel Exploration Journal. 54.2, 256-261.
• Avner, U., Davies, G. & Magness, J. 2004. The Roman Fort at Yotvata: Interim Report (2003) Journal of Roman Archaeology. 17, 405-412.
• Davies, G. 2000. Cremna in Pisidia: a re-appraisal of the siege works. Anatolian Studies. 50, 151-158.

Siege works at Machaerus
The Roman siege system	The assault ramp AR, with camp H behind

 

Proceedings

• Davies, G. 2001. The Circumvallation at Hatra. In Freeman, P. et al. (eds.) Proceedings of the 18 th International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies. Vol. 1. 281-286. BAR International Series 1084(1).
• Davies, G. 2001. Siege works, psychology and symbolism. In: Davies, G., Gardner, A. & Lockyear, K. (eds.). Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference, London 2000. 69-79. Oxbow: Oxford.

Chapters in Books

• Davies, G. 2019. The Landscape of Siege. In: Armstrong, J. and Trundle, M. (eds.) The Brill's Companion to Sieges in the Ancient Mediterranean.18-34, Brill: Leiden.
• Davies, G. 2017. Prey or Participants? : Civilian Siege Experiences during the First Jewish Revolt. In: Foote, N. and Williams, N. (eds.) Civilians and Warfare in World History. 67-79. Routledge: New York.
• Davies, G. 2015 (reprint). The Masada Siege - from the Roman Viewpoint. In: Shanks, H. (ed.) Herod's Palace-Fortresses. 18-27. Biblical Archaeology Review: Washington, DC.
• Davies, G. 2015. Siege Warfare: Principate. In: le Bohec, Y. et al. (eds.) The Encyclopedia of the Roman Army, 3. 885-893. Wiley-Blackwell: Chichester.
• Davies, G. 2013. Roman Forts and Fortifications. In: Master, D.M.(ed.) The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Archaeology. 2, 295-303. OUP: Oxford.
• Davies, G. 2008. Roman Warfare and Fortification. In: Oleson, J.P. (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Engineering and Technology in the Classical World. 691-711. OUP: Oxford.
• Davies, G. 2001. Rome: the Eastern Frontiers, from 30 BC. In: Messenger, C. (ed.). Readers’ Guide to Military History. 497-498. Fitzroy Dearborn: London.

Reviews

• Davies, G. 2019. Book review of Magness, J. Masada: From Jewish Revolt to Modern Myth. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton UP. Strata: Bulletin of the Anglo-Israeli Archaeological Society. 37, 163-4.
• Davies, G. 2019. Book review of Wrightson, G. Combined Arms Warfare in Ancient Greece. From Homer to Alexander the Great and his Successors. London and New York: Routledge. Classical Review. 69.2, 501-503.
• Davies, G. 2017. Book review of Graff, D.A. The Eurasian Way of War: Military Practice in Seventh-century China and Byzantium. Routledge: Oxford. Journal of Military History. 81.2, 542-44.
• Davies, G. 2015. Book review of Levithan, J. Roman Siege Warfare. Univ. of Michigan Press. Journal of Roman Archaeology. 28, 709-711.
• Davies, G. 2014. Book review of Burton, P.J. Friendship and Empire. Roman Diplomacy and Imperialism in the Middle Republic (353-146 BC). Cambridge UP. Journal of Roman Archaeology. 27, 532-535.
• Davies, G. 2012. Book review of Roth, J. Roman Warfare. Cambridge UP. Journal of Roman Archaeology. 25, 748-749.
• Davies, G. 2012. Book review of Heuser, B. The Evolution of Strategy. Cambridge UP. Journal of World History. 23.4, 669-672.
• Davies, G. 2009. Book review of Sage, M. 2008, The Republican Roman Army. A Sourcebook. Routledge: Oxford. Journal of Roman Archaeology. 22, 665-667.
• Davies, G. 2009. Book review of Parker, S.T. 2006. The Roman Frontier in Central Jordan: final report on the Limes Arabicus Project, 1980-1989, Dumbarton Oaks Studies XL. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research. 353, 117-119.
• Davies, G. 2005. Book review of Sekunda, N. Hellenistic Infantry Reform in the 160s BC. Studies on the History of Ancient and Medieval Warfare 5. Oficyna Naukowa: Lodz. American Journal of Archaeology. 109.1, 119-121.
• Davies, G. 1999. Conference Review, RAC/TRAC 1999. Papers from the Institute of Archaeology. 10, 99-100.
• Davies, G. 1996. Conference Review, Iron for Archaeologists. Papers from the Institute of Archaeology. 7, 75-77.
• Davies, G. 1995. Book Review, of Mitchell, S. et al. Cremna in Pisidia: an ancient city in peace and war. Duckworth and the Classical Press of Wales: London. Papers from the Institute of Archaeology. 7, 91-92.
• Davies, G. Editorial Interviews: 1996, Peter Ucko (PIA 7, 17-22); 1997, Geoffrey Wainwright (PIA 8, 7-15); 1998, Neal Ascherson (PIA 9, 9-18).

Presented Papers and Lectures:

Conference papers

• 'Dig for Victory'! Competitive Fieldwork in Classical Siege Operations. The Art of Siege Warfare and Military Architecture from the Classical World to the Middle Ages Conference, University of Haifa, February 2017.
• Was there a Roman Cohort at Ein Gedi? American Schools of Oriental Research Annual Meeting, Chicago, November 2012.
• Prey or Participants? Civilian Siege Experiences during the First Jewish Revolt. Civilians and Warfare in World History, Florida Gulf Coast University, February 2012.
• The Roman Fort at Yotvata: a Valentinianic Foundation? American Schools of Oriental Research Annual Meeting, Atlanta, November 2010.
• Archaeological Approaches to Roman Siege Warfare. Archaeological Institute of America, Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, January 2009.
• The Roman Fort at Yotvata in its Regional Context. The American Schools for Oriental Research Annual Meeting, San Diego, November 2007.
• The Roman Fort at Yotvata, Excavations 2003-2006. The Roman Archaeology Conference, UCL, London, March 2007.
• Excavations at the Roman fort at Yotvata, 2005 and 2006. The American Schools for Oriental Research Annual Meeting. Washington D.C. November 2006.
• Yotvata: a Roman Beau Geste? The Florida Conference of Historians. Wolfsonian-FIU, May 2006.
• Excavations at the Roman fort at Yotvata, 2003 and 2004. The American Schools for Oriental Research Annual Meeting. San Antonio, TX. November 2005.
• The Circumvallation at Hatra. The XVIIIth International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies. Amman, Jordan, September 2000.
• Siege works, Psychology and Symbolism. The Tenth Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference. UCL, London, March 2000.

Invited colloquia

• Burnswark and the Corfinium Analogy. Northern Frontiers Seminar, Ecclefechan. May 2010.
• Roman Siege works in the East. The Roman Army Seminar. University of Durham. March 1999.
• Sieges in the Literary Sources. The Roman Army Seminar. University of Durham. March 1998.

Other lectures

• Stamping out the Embers: Rome, Judaea and Resistance, Work in progress seminar, University of Miami, March 2020.
• Stamping out the Embers: the Roman Sieges of Machaerus and Masada, Annual Feinstone Lecture in the Archaeology of Israel for the AIA, University of Missouri Kansas City, February 2020.
• Landscapes of Siege. James Russell Annual Lecture, Archaeological Institute of America, University of Mississippi, October 2019.
• Caesar's Commentaries: Tweeting 'Fake News' in the Classical World. Classics Lecture in honor of Marian Demos, FIU Library, April 2019.
• Brexit AD 60: Boudica's Rebellion. FIU Library Roman Night, April 2017.
• The Late Roman Fort at Yotvata, Israel. Annual Feinstone Lecture in the Archaeology of Israel for the AIA, McClung Museum, University of Tennessee, October 2015.
• Endgame: the Roman Siege of Masada, Israel. AIA Toledo Society, Toledo Museum of Art, March 2015.
• Endgame: the Siege of Masada from the Roman Perspective. AIA South Florida Society, Florida Atlantic University, February 2015.
• The First World War in Context. World War One Centenary Commemoration, Miami-Dade CC, August 2014.
• Stamping out the Embers: the Roman Sieges of Machaerus and Masada. Albert H. Clayburgh Annual Lecture, Archaeological Institute of America, Princeton University, February 2012.
• Excavations at the Roman Fort at Yotvata. Phi Alpha Theta Honors Society, FIU. January 2009.
• Archaeological Correctives to Roman Siege Narratives. Brock University. January 2008.
• Excavating the late Roman Desert Outpost at Yotvata, Israel. The History Department Brown Bag seminar, FIU. April 2005.
• Roman Siege Narratives, or Seeing through the Literary Prism. The History Department, FIU. January 2004.
• Postcards from the Edge: the Roman Writing Tablets from Vindolanda. MiamIntelligence, March 2004.
• Iacta alea est: Caesar’s Invasion of Italy, 49BC. MiamIntelligence, February 2003.
• Cremna in Pisidia: the Anatomy of a Roman Siege. The Humanities Society, FIU. November 2002.
• A Circle in the Sand: the circumvallation at Hatra. Phi Alpha Theta Honors Society, FIU. February 2002.
• Revisiting the Siege at Cremna. The Working Group on Complex Societies, University College London. March 2000.

Professional Honors, Prizes, Fellowships:

University

• 2005 Florida International University Foundation Teaching Excellence Award.

Other professional

• 1996-1999. British Academy Full Competitive Scholarship for Ph.D. research.
• 1996. Brian Clausen prizewinner (for best dissertation on a classical theme) University College London.
• 1995-1996. British Academy Full Competitive Scholarship for completion of M.Res.

Other Professional Activities and Public Service:

Conferences

• Panel Chair, Classical Military Architecture. The Art of Siege Warfare and Military Architecture from the Classical World to the Middle Ages Conference, University of Haifa, February 2017.
• Panel Organizer and Chair, The Roman Army in Judaea/Palaestina, The Roman Archaeology Conference, UCL, London, March 2007.
• Co-organizer, The Tenth Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference, UCL, London, March 2000.

Journals

• Editorial Board Member, Papers from the Institute of Archaeology, 2013-present.
• Senior Editor, Papers from the Institute of Archaeology – annual, peer-reviewed journal 1995-1998.

Referee and Reviewing Activity

• Evaluator, Walter S. Rosenberry Fellowship, Forest History Society, 2019.
• Evaluator, Grant application, Israel Science Foundation, 2019 and 2020.
• Evaluator, Grant application, National Science Foundation, 2015 and 2016.
• Article Referee, Levant, 2015.
• Book Proposal Evaluator, Before, During and After Battle: Case Studies in Current Military History of the Ancient World. Wiley-Blackwell, 2011.
• Evaluator, MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, 2010.
• Book Manuscript Evaluator, Julius Caesar and the Fall of the Roman Republic, Pearson 2010.
• Article Referee, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 2009.
• Book Proposal Referee, The Atlas of Roman Warfare, Palgrave 2005.
• Article Referee, Enterprise and Society, 2006.
• Article Referee, Biblical Archaeology Review, 2005.
• Evaluator, Grant application, Israel Science Foundation, 2005.
• Evaluator, Masters Thesis Competition, Southern Conference of Graduate Schools, 2004.

Archaeological field work

• Co-director of Exploratory Excavations at Tel Achziv, Israel, 2012.
• Co-director of Yotvata Roman Fort Project, 2003 - 2007.
• Area Supervisor, Excavations of the Iron Age iron production site at Crawcwellt, North Wales, 1993 - 2000.
• Excavator, Pre-Roman Iron Age site at Aulnat, Auvergne, 1994.
• Excavator, Bignor Roman Villa, 1993.

Media organizations

• Commentator for article 'Northern Conflict' in BBC History News Magazine, October 2012.
• Commentator on 'siege warfare' and 'last stands' for Military Officer Magazine, 2011.
• Television interviews for PBS series Ground War, 'Big Guns' and 'Fortifications', 2009.
• Television interview for the History Channel, Battlefield Detectives, 2005.
• Commentator on The Varian Disaster for Maxim Magazine, 2004.
• Advisor for the History Channel documentary on the Emperor Trajan, 2000.