Dr Adrian Boas
Contact Details
Department of Archaeology
Haifa University
Mount Carmel
Haifa 31905
Israel
Background
When and where did you initially develop an interest in the history of the crusades and/or the Latin East?
My interest in the history of the Crusades and the Latin East developed during my BA studies at the Hebrew University between 1984 and 1987.
Who or what sparked your enthusiasm for the subject?
I studied under the late Professor Joshua Prawer who was a brilliant lecturer and introduced me to the topic and in particular to the history of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and who supported my decision to combine an interest in the history of the period with my archaeological research.
Education
Please provide details of your Higher Education, including dates, institution(s) and the name(s) of your research supervisors.
- BA 1985-1989, MA 1989-1991, PhD 1991-1995
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem,
- Depts of General History and Archaeology
Supervisors – MA – Professor Benjamin Z Kedar (History),
Professor Joseph Yellin (Archaeology) - PhD - Professor Benjamin Z Kedar (History), Professor Yoram Tsafrir (Archaeology)
Career History
Please provide details of your academic career history, including confirmation of your current institutional affiliation and contact details.
- From 1995-2001 part-time lecturer at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Institute of Archaeology.
- From 1995-1996 teaching fellow at Haifa University Dept. of Archaeology.
- Since 1999 lecturer at Haifa University Depts of Archaeology and Land of Israel Studies.
- Since 2005 senior lecturer at Haifa University Depts of Archaeology and Land of Israel Studies.
Influences and Methodologies
What ideas and/or methodologies have informed your approach to your research?
I aim at interdisciplinary studies combining archaeological and historical research, utilising wherever possible modern scientific technology in order to answer historical questions.
Research Outlook
What do you consider to be the most important avenues for future research in the field of crusader studies?
I believe that one of the most promising directions for future study is in the expansion and development of research into the daily life of Frankish settlers in the Latin East. This is an area which has been long neglected and which a number of recent publications have shown to be one which has considerable potential.
Research Output
Please provide details of your research output, including publications and other media as appropriate.
I have published a large number of papers on the archaeology of Crusader period and three books – Crusader Archaeology: The Material; Culture of the Latin East (Routledge 1999), Jerusalem in the Time of the Crusades (Routledge 2001) and Archaeology of the Military Orders (Routledge 2006) and am in the final stages of a book on domestic architecture and daily life in the Latin East to be published by Brill. I have participated and directed several archaeological excavations of Crusader sites – castles, urban sites and villages and am now directing a major research project at Montfort Castle in the western Galilee.