Speaker: Dr. Lisa Cooper, Professor, Department of Classical, Near Eastern and Religious Studies, UBC
Dr. Lisa Cooper’s research interests include the history of archaeological exploration and archaeological practice in “Greater Mesopotamia” (ancient Iraq, Syria, Iran and Turkey), particularly in the early 20th century. She is currently part of the Central Zagros Archaeology Project in Iraqi Kurdistan. Dr. Cooper has also done extensive research into the life and work of the early 20th century English explorer and archaeologist Gertrude Bell, about whom she wrote in her book In Search of Kings and Conquerors: Gertrude Bell and the Archaeology of the Middle East (2016). This book was awarded the runner-up prize by the British-Kuwait Friendship Society in October 2017. Dr. Cooper has also published Early Urbanism on the Syrian Euphrates (2006), covering Mesopotamia and other regions of the Near East during the Early Bronze Age.