It is the continued goal to expand this research around the Mediterranean (i.e., Egypt and various regions in North Africa, Jordan, Ancient Judea, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey). This expanded study will use material culture to showcase whether the Serapis and Isis cults were utilized to assimilate, syncretize, isolate, appropriate, expurgate, and/or juxtapose ancient Egyptian religion and culture into various ancient cultures and societies, and comparatively analyze the differences by regions. This expanded research project will become a second monograph volume to help archaeologists and historians better understand the historical archaeology of religious change that the ancient Egyptian religion and culture contributed to cross-culturally around the Mediterranean.
3. Digital Archaeology Projects:
Dr. Laughlin is the Principal Investigator of the following three digital archaeology projects:
Aqaba was the only coastal city of ancient Jordan. Aqaba was founded by the Nabateans in first century BCE and later ruled by the Romans. Because Aqaba is on the coast of the Red Sea, which is a semi-enclosed inlet of the Indian Ocean, it provided access to various lands, including Egypt. Aqaba, which was originally known for its frankincense, myrrh, and spices, later became known as trading port for many items including glass, ceramics (amphora and fine wares), wine, olive oil, etc. Permissions are granted from Director, Megan A. Perry, Ph.D., East Carolina University, and the Department of Antiquities of the Royal Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Tell Nimrin is an archaeological legacy site in Jordan, north of the Dead Sea. It is a rich site with a vibrant history that some scholars connected to biblical history, the First Jewish-Roman Revolt, Madaba Map, and the Mosaic of Rehob, to name a few. Permissions are granted from Co-Directors, David W. McCreery, Ph.D., Willamette University; Khair N. Yassine, Ph.D., University of Jordan; and the Department of Antiquities of the Royal Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Serapian and Isian Trails: A Digital Mapping Project
In relation to my forthcoming book, I am developing a digital map that displays Serapian and Isiac material culture around the Mediterranean.