Education
PhD, Geology, University of Georgia
BA, Anthropology, Oberlin College
Professional Interests
As both a trained geologist and archaeologist, my research uses geological theories and methodologies to investigate the physical, chemical and social relationships that cultures have with their natural environment. Currently, I am pursuing two major research trajectories. The first is the development and application of portable instrumentation to study the synergistic relationships between societies and their changing landscapes. These projects use ground-based, aerial and geochemical surveys to understand how the landscape influences the development of human cultures and, in turn, how dynamic landscapes influence social and cultural resilience and change. Research along this trajectory includes a systematic geochemical study of floor samples collected from multiple monumental structures at the Neolithic site of the Ness of Brodgar in Orkney, Scotland, aerial surveys of ancient marble quarries in Greece, and aerial investigations of landscape responses after disturbance from harvesting or fire. The aerial surveys make use of drone-mounted cameras, LiDAR and multispectral sensors. My second line of research focuses on the procurement, use, trade and aesthetics of white marble used in the ancient Mediterranean basin. Current marble research in this area includes analysis of marble samples from the Parthenon and Propylaea on the Athenian acropolis, re-evaluating the extent of prehistoric marble quarrying in the Cyclades, and collaborating with archaeologists, museum curators and art historians to assess the provenance of marble artifacts, statuary, and monuments.
Courses
Earth System Science
Research Methods in Archaeological Geology
Principles of Hydrology
Aerial Methods in Field Research
Environmental Science Senior Capstone
Introduction to Global Archaeology
Archaeology Field School at the Ness of Brodgar
Advanced Archaeology Field School at the Ness of Brodgar
Recent Publications
Select Publications
Pike, S. From the Acropolis to Pentelikon: Deconstructing the Parthenon. In The Parthenon: Color, Materiality and Aesthetics, M. Abbe and N. Norman, eds., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK (forthcoming).
Pike, S. and Shinsato, L., 2020. Geochemical analysis of the floors from Structure 14 using a portable XRF. In The Ness of Brodgar: As it Stands, N. Card, M. Edmonds and A. Mitchell (eds), The Orcadian Press, Kirkwall, 166-173.
Pike, S., 2020. Scientific assessment of the marble fragments of the Raleigh Bacchus. In The Bacchus Conservation Project, North Carolina Museum of Art.
Leidwanger, J., Pike, S. and Donnelly, A., 2018. Revisiting the Origin and Destination of the Late Antique Marzamemi ‘Church Wreck’ Cargo. In Interdisciplinary Studies of Ancient Stone, Proceedings of the Eleventh International Conference of ASMOSIA, Split, Croatia, 291-300.
Shillito, L.M., McKenzie, J., Card, N., Pike, S. and Chan, B., 2015. Subsistence, technology and resource use in Neolithic Orkney at the Ness of Brodgar. Antiquity Project Gallery, 348.
Bianchi, F., Bruno, M., and Pike, S., 2015. Pentelic marble in the Severan Complex in Leptis Magna (Tripolitania, Libya). In Interdisciplinary Studies on Ancient Rome: Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference of ASMOSIA, Rome, Italy, 23-34.
Bernard, S. and Pike, S., 2015. Isotopic analysis of marble from the Stoa of Attalos in the Athenian Agora and the Hellenistic quarries of Mount Pentelikon. In Interdisciplinary Studies on Ancient Rome: Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference of ASMOSIA, Rome, Italy, 451-460.
Palagia, O. and Pike, S., 2015. Art historical and scientific perspectives on the nature of the orange-red patina of the Parthenon. In Interdisciplinary Studies on Ancient Rome: Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference of ASMOSIA, Rome, Italy, 881-890.