Dr. Lucia Cerullo is an archaeologist and art historian with a PhD in Asia, Africa, and the Mediterraneum from the University of Naples “L’Orientale”, in Italy. Her academic path began with a focus on Elamite epigraphy, explored in her Bachelor’s thesis on royal inscriptions from Persepolis. Over time, she developed a dual focus in archaeology and epigraphy, which she sees as essential in fully understanding ancient cultures. She has worked as an archaeologist in Italy, and held senior roles in fieldwork across Uzbekistan and Iran, including nearly seven years at the Iran National Museum in Tehran. Her expertise focuses on 1st Millenium BCE material culture, especially metal objects and pottery.
Dr. Lucia Cerullo is currently affiliated with the Associazione Internazionale di Studi sul Mediterraneo e l’Oriente (ISMEO) in Italy, and the Centre of Excellence in Ancient Near Eastern Empires (ANEE) at the University of Helsinki.
What initially drew you to the WORK-IT project, and what do you hope to learn from it?
After completing a PhD, many scholars often find themselves uncertain about the next steps, as they search for their place in the academic field. What I wanted to do after finishing my PhD was to find a project that would allow me to explore new challenges without straying too far from my geographical area and chronological expertise. I was looking for something that pushed me beyond my usual methodologies and allows me to explore new challenges. This project enables me to continue my work as an archaeologist and deepens my understanding of the Achaemenid Period, which I know well, while venturing in a new territory – the Southern Levant. WORK-IT pushes me beyond my usual methodology and allows me to adopt a more multidisciplinary perspective. In archaeology, we often focus on an object, decide on its function and move on, but this project encourages me to go beyond that – to question who made it, for what purpose and why. In the seven months I have been involved, I’ve already learned to examine archaeological data not only by its function but also through its broader societal and sociological implications, which is a new perspective I am excited to apply to new projects.
Can you tell us about how your interest in ancient Iran – especially the Elamite and Achaemenid periods – first began?
Over 15 years ago, in my first year as an undergraduate at “L’Orientale”, I was unsure about my research focus. My Sumero-Akkadian Epigraphy Professor Simonetta Graziani encouraged me to enrol in the first-ever Elamite course in Italy. When you study Mesopotamian history or archaeology, you always see the Elamites in contrast with the Mesopotamians. They are the enemy. However, the course had a compelling mixture of language and archaeology, and once I enrolled in the course, I had the opportunity to learn more about Elam. The course was taught by Professor Gian Pietro Basello, who sparked a small flame of interest that grew over time, and I started to build my academic career around Ancient Iran. Later, under the mentorship of Professor Gian Pietro Basello and Professor Bruno Genito, I broadened my focus to include the Achaemenids. I soon realised that while Mesopotamia is traditionally celebrated as the cradle of civilisation, the rich and distinct cultural heritage of Iran was equally fascinating. I feel fortunate to understand from the first year onwards that this subject was my destiny.
Could you walk us through your current research on the Southern Levant during the Persian Empire — what questions are you asking, and what findings have emerged so far?
My research investigates the social dynamics within the religious field by analysing the archaeological data. The first focus is to develop a methodology that allows me to interpret the construction and reconstruction of the temples in Southern Levant during the Persian Period, particularly in the context of forced labor. The second is to gain a broader understanding of how temple institutions interacted with social structures. At this stage of my research, I am conducting an extensive bibliographical review of all archaeological sites across the Levant – not only the south but also the north. Since we don’t have that many surviving structures it is important to have a comparative study. This naturally extended my research beyond traditional temple and sanctuary structures. It now includes material culture highlighting religious practices in other buildings such as palaces, administrative buildings and houses. While these are not directly related to the temples, they are still related to cultic activities of this period. Examining all of these allow me to have a more comprehensive picture of the roles of religious institutions in a wider social framework. I’ve already gathered a substantial amount of material that enable us to understand more. I am very pleased with the results until now, even though there are some challenges that should be addressed.
If you could sit down with a historical figure from the period you study, who would it be and what would you like to ask them?
I would not choose a prominent figure like an Achaemenid king or high-ranking priest, as their narratives often glorify the regime. Instead, I would prefer to speak with an artisan from the working class, perhaps someone involved in providing artifacts for temples in the Southern Levant during the 6th to late 5th century BCE. This person would offer a unique perspective on life under Achaemenid rule, which is rarely captured in official records. I would ask about their personal experience of the empire, how they perceived changes compared to their ancestors, and what differences they saw in the local community. I’d also be curious about the organization of work and the challenges faced, especially regarding the roles of men, women, and even children, as we know from records that children worked too. Lastly, I’d be interested in learning more about the artisans who crafted metal vessels, as I’ve worked on such materials but know little about the people behind their creation
Stay tuned for our post next week, where we’ll dive into the fascinating world of temples, cultic sites, and how Dr. Lucia Cerullo brings them back to life thousands of years later.