Dumbarton Oaks summer program in Byzantine numismatics and sigillography

A reminder that the application deadline for the Dumbarton Oaks
summer program in Byzantine numismatics and sigillography is January
15, 2009.

July 7–31, 2009

In July of 2009 Dumbarton Oaks will again offer a summer program on
Byzantine numismatics and sigillography, drawing upon its extensive
holdings of coins and seals. The program will be under the direction
of Dr. Cécile Morrisson, Advisor for Byzantine Numismatics, and Dr.
John Nesbitt, Research Associate, Byzantine Sigillography. A limited
number of places will be available for graduate students of any
nationality who are pursuing a doctoral degree in some field of
Byzantine studies. Applications will also be accepted from junior
faculty members teaching at least one course in Byzantine Studies at
a college or university.
Admission requirements

Applicants must be a doctoral student or junior faculty member in
some area of Byzantine Studies. Candidates will be expected to have a
reading knowledge of French and German and to have completed two
years of college level Classical Greek (or its equivalent).
Course offerings

The seminars are intended as introductions to the study and uses of
the auxiliary disciplines of numismatics and sigillography.

Numismatics. The course will include several seminar meetings, each
session of two and one-half hours in duration. Among topics to be
discussed will be bibliography, the basics of the discipline, coin
hoards and the use of coins as evidence for Byzantine political,
economic and art history. In separate workshop sessions students will
be instructed how to read Byzantine coins, date them and write a
catalog entry. Students who choose to focus on numismatics will
present to the group a pre-determined research topic or a group of
coins which they will have transcribed and dated by their own
efforts. [Participants may discuss their own material: e.g.
excavation documentation in the form of casts or photographs or even
better the coins themselves].

Sigillography. The course will include several seminar meetings, each
meeting of two and one-half hours in duration. Members will be
introduced to bibliography and will be instructed in the reading,
dating and cataloging of Byzantine lead seals. Students who choose to
focus on sigillography will present to the group a pre-determined
research topic or a group of seals which they will have transcribed,
dated, and interpreted by their own efforts. A further purpose of the
seminars is to consider how the seals aid research in Byzantine
history, literature and art.

As part of regular course work or in informal meetings a variety of
special topics will be examined, such as digital imagery,
construction of maps, and electronic programs for statistical
treatment.
Accommodation and expenses

Successful candidates will receive free housing (except for anyone
living in the greater Washington area) and breakfast at the Fellows
Building, in addition to lunch on weekdays. They will also be
entitled to unlimited reader passes to the library for the month of
July. They are, however, responsible for their own transportation
costs.

Faculty. Dr. Cécile Morrisson, C.N.R.S.-Collè ge de France; Dr. John
Nesbitt, Dumbarton Oaks.
Application procedure

Applicants must send a letter by January 15, 2009, to Dr. Alice-Mary
Talbot, Director of Byzantine Studies at Dumbarton Oaks (1703 32nd
St., NW, Washington, DC 20007), describing their academic background
and listing specific reasons for wishing to be included in the summer
program. All applicants should include a curriculum vitae; doctoral
candidates should arrange for the sending of a transcript of their
graduate school record. Two letters of recommendation should be sent
separately, at least one of them from a faculty member who has
instructed the candidate in an area of Byzantine studies. Selection
criteria will include (but not be limited to) a demonstrated need for
the seminar and the candidates' present and future research projects.
For further information, write Alice-Mary Talbot, John Nesbitt or
Cécile Morrisson.

Director of Byzantine Studies

Dumbarton Oaks

1703 32nd St., NW

Washington, DC 20007

202-339-6941