Overview
Dani Vander Horst is a trained field archaeologist specializing in Roman archaeology. She holds multiple degrees in Classical Archaeology from the University of Rochester, Cornell University, and Duke University. She also previously worked as the Undergraduate Program Coordinator for the Department of Computer Science at the University of Rochester.
Her research interests lie broadly in the Roman world and its religious practices, and she specializes in materials from Roman Britain, particularly Romano-British face pots. Her current research questions are concerned with the expression of religious identity in provincial contexts in the Roman empire, and how changes in such expressions are mirrored in changes in material consumption and deposition at religious sites in Roman Britain. Her other academic interests also touch upon ethical practices across the humanities especially as they pertain to public accessibility of educational and research materials, repatriation of cultural heritage objects, and equitable practices in the field, classroom, and in the advising of students. She is passionate about creating safe spaces for students and has a particular interest in connecting students with education abroad opportunities and advising students interested in pursuing graduate education.
She joined the Department of History of Art and Visual Studies in 2023 as the Undergraduate/Graduate Coordinator.
Research Focus
- Roman Britain
- Constructions of Identity in Antiquity
- Religious Identity in the Roman world
- Materiality
- Frontiers of the Roman Empire
- Ethics of Archaeology
Publications
Peer Reviewed Chapters
Vander Horst, D. 2024. "Containing Yourself: Romano-British Face Pots as Proxy for Body and Self," in C. Marini and L. Trotzopoulou-Gregory (eds.), Of Things and Stories: Current Approaches to Object Biography, Medium, and Materiality, Selected Papers on Ancient Art and Architecture 8. Boston: Archaeological Institute of America.