User:Jamie Szudy

The account of this former contributor was not re-activated after the server upgrade of March 2022.

I am currently working on a PhD in Assyriology at the University of Vienna (Austria). I have an MA, also in Assyriology, from the U. of Michigan-Ann Arbor (2000), and a BA in Classical History/History/History of Culture from the U. of Wisconsin-Madison (1997). I have also taken classes in nautical archaeology, modern standard Arabic, and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict from the U. of Minnesota as a non-degree student (ca. 2002-2005). I have been on two archaeological digs: the Tell Madaba Project (Jordan, 1996), and the Wadi ath-Thamad Project (Jordan, 2004).

My dissertation topic is Neo-Assyrian archery equipment, which reflects my interest in the Neo-Assyrian period, archaeo-metallurgy, and the issue of how military equipment was produced/acquired and distributed by the state. I also have particular interests in experimental archaeology (especially in relation to metallurgy) and Neo-Assyrian art (reliefs, wall paintings, methods of decorating metal objects, etc.). As an Assyriologist, I'm quite familiar with the history of ancient Mesopotamia (and the Near East in general), the cuneiform writing system, and the Akkadian language. However my aquantance with Sumerian is, alas, not all that it could be...

My other interests include the Hellenistic Near East, nautical archaeology & maritime history (ancient, Rennaisance, and 18th century), space exploration & astrophysics, armor (primarily ancient, but also Medieval), civil & historical aviation, modern Middle Eastern history, and the history of technology (particularly mechanical devices, such as the Antikythera Mechanism). I've also developed a growing interest in UFO research.