Congratulations to Dr Michael Curtis

July marked a significant milestone as Michael celebrated the award of his PhD at the University of Leicester, bringing to a successful conclusion almost a decade of research into the maritime archaeology and coastal landscapes of Roman Crete.

Michael began his doctoral journey in 2017 at the University of Nottingham after completing an MA with Merit.  His master's dissertation, Contextualisation of Three Ports of the Hellenistic and Roman Period on Crete, provided the foundation for what would become an ambitious programme of research into the island's ports, harbours, and maritime networks.

In 2018, he transferred to the School of Heritage and Culture at the University of Leicester, where, under the supervision of Professors Simon James and Graham J.  Shipley, he developed his research into the maritime landscape of Hellenistic and Roman Crete.  His work culminated in the successful completion of his doctoral thesis, The Imperial Ports and Harbours of Crete: Characterising a Provincial Maritime and Coastal Landscape (Late First Century BCE-Third Century CE).

The thesis offers a substantial new contribution to the study of Roman Crete, providing the first comprehensive assessment of the island's Imperial ports and harbours within their wider maritime and coastal landscape.  By integrating archaeological, historical and landscape evidence, the research enhances our understanding of the organisation, function and development of Crete's maritime infrastructure during the Roman Imperial period.