Faculty Profiles

Anagnostis Agelarakis

Professor
History, College of Arts and Sciences

Science Building 229-230
516.877.4112
agelarakis@adelphi.edu
http://​adelphi.​academia.​edu/​AnagnostisAgelarakis

General Information

Diplomas/Degrees

Diplomas/Degrees

Ph.D., Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, Columbia University, New York (1989)

M.Phil., Anthropology, Columbia University, New York (1988)

M.S., Environmental Conservation and Management, Lund Polythechnic Institute, Sweden (1980)

B.A., Classical Archaeology and European Ethnology, Lund University, Sweden (1977)

Professional Experience

Professional Experience

 

Dr. Anagnostis Agelarakis, has worked in archaeo-anthropological field/lab research projects in 10 countries.  As PI of archaeological-anthropological projects carried out in 9 out of those 10 countries he has published to date research results involving 65 archaeological sites.

Please see "Personal Statement", and "Selected Publications and Presentations", and/or visit his profile in Academia.edu, or ResearchGate.

 

Personal Statement

Personal Statement

Anagnostis P. Agelarakis is Professor of Anthropology in the History Department at Adelphi University.  ‎ He studied Classical Archaeology and European Ethnology as an undergraduate, and as a graduate Human Osteology/Cremations, and Environmental Studies at Lund University and Lund Polytechnic Institute.  He holds a terminal degree in Anthropology from Columbia University (1989), in Archaeology and Physical Anthropology.

In the earlier years of his career,  he carried out field and/or lab archaeo-anthropological research projects focusing on the organizational abilities and capacities of the human condition during the Holocene in SE (1), (2), (3) and SW Asia (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), the Middle East (10), (11), (12), the American Northeast (13), (14), (15), and the Caribbean (16), and (17). 

The central areas of his research remain however, the Eastern Mediterranean with a focus on the ancient world of the Greeks, at the cross-fertilizing roads and sea routes of three continents.  Under the domains of Bio-Archaeology, Forensics, Funerary Archaeology, and ancient History, he studies the biological profiles, the demographic, and palaeopathological records of human skeletal populations from prehistoric periods to the late medieval era (18), (19), (20), (21), (22), (23), (24), (25), (26), (27), (28), (50), (51), (54), (56), (60), (62) and (63).                                

Based on the skeletal record, he investigates issues relative to weapons, battle tactics, and the changing dynamics of ancient warfare, the developments of the art of medicine, particularly in trauma surgery and healing, as well as aspects on the decipherment of kinetic and occupational changes permanently recorded on bones and teeth   (29), (30), (31), (32), (33), (34), (35), (36), (37), (38), (39), (40), (53), and (61).   Further, he searches through archaeological anthropology for evidence that may fine-tune our perceptions on gender roles, and our understanding of the decorum and symbolism of burial customs and practices, always considering and juxtaposing literary and historic records (41), (42), (43), (44), (45), (46), (48), (49), (52), (55), and (59). 

In the domain of Ethnohistory, he tends to investigate the conditions and environments that were afforded on Byzantine populations (47), (57), and (58) since the desecration and pillage of Constantinople by the Forth Crusade in 1204.

In the area of Ethnography, he has been studying aspects of the diachronic roots and cultural traditions of shepherding and mixed shepherding / agricultural communities in the biome of mountainous Crete, Greece.

ADMINISTRATIVE  POSITIONS AT ADELPHI UNIVERSITY

.2012-Aug. 2018      Chair, Anthropology Department

.2002-Aug. 2011      Director, Environmental Studies Program

.2001-2002               Chair, Department of Anthropology & Sociology

.2001-2007               Chair, International Initiatives Committee (Presidential Committee)

.2000-2001               Unit Head, Anthropology & Sociology Departments.

.1998-1999               Acting Chair, Dept. of Anthropology; Acting Director, Environmental Studies

.1996-1998               Director, Society of Mentors (Presidential Committee)

.1996-1998               Chair, Student Life and Development Committee (Faculty Senate)

.1991-1992               Founding Member, Adelphi Environmental Studies Program (with R. Lund; J. Vetter)

 

         POSITIONS IN OTHER PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS  

.since 2021               Member, Blue Shield International-Protection of Cultural Heritage from Armed Conflict and Natural Disasters

.since 2021               Member, ICOMOS-International Council on Monuments and Sites

.since 2019               Member, Archaeological Society at Athens

.since 2019               Scientific Associate, Reich aDNA Lab-Harvard Medical School, Boston

.since 2019               Founder, Aegean Foundation of Anthropology, New York, USA

.since 2013               Board Member, Archaeology Council, Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens

.since 2011               Vice President, Mediterranean Archaeological Society, Rethymnon

.since 2011               Archaeology Editor, Mediterranean Archaeology & Archaeometry Int. Journal

.2007-2010               Editorial Board Member, Bio-Archaeology of the Middle East Journal

.2004-2008               Referee and National Representative USA: Intern. Journal of Anthropology

.2004-2009              Editorial Board (Eastern Mediterranean): Paleopathology Association Newsletter

.2003-2008               Senior Specialist, Fulbright Scholar Program

.since 2002               Editorial Board Member, Eulimene Journal

.2002-2011               Editorial Board Member, Mediterranean Archaeology & Archaeometry Int. J.

.since 2000               Board Member, Mediterranean Archaeological Society, Rethymnon

.1996-2007              Research Fellow, Physical Anthropology, M.A.S.C.A., U. of Pennsylvania

.1992-2007               Member, Metropolitan Forensic Anthropology Team, Lehman College, C.U.N.Y.

.1992-2000               Scientist in Residence, Forensic Anthropology, Lehman College, C.U.N.Y.

 

References Cited

"Some Reconstructions of Human Conditions During the 3rd millennium BC in S.E. Asia”.  South-East Asian Archaeology, 1992, Proceedings of the 4th International Conference of the European Association of Southeast Asian Archaeologists, Rome, 1992. Eds. R. Ciarla, and F. Rispoli. Istituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente, (1997), 99-117. "The Archaeology of Human Bones: Prehistoric Copper Producing Peoples in the Khao Wong Prachan Valley, Central Thailand", in ( Ed.) P. Bellwood, The Indo-Pacific Prehistory: The Chang Mai Papers,  IPAA Bulletin 14:1 (1996), 133-139.  Pigott, V. et al “A Program of Analysis of Organic Remains from Prehistoric Copper-producing Settlements in the Khao Wong Prachan Valley, Central Thailand: A Progress Report” , in (Eds. E. Bacus, I. Glover, and V. Pigott) “Uncovering Southeast Asia’s Past”, National University of Singapore Publishing, Singapore, (2006), 154-167. "Proto‑Neolithic Human Skeletal Remains in the Zawi-Chemi Layer in Shanidar Cave",  SumerXL:1-2 (1987-88), 7-16. The Palaeopathological Evidence, Indicators of Stress of the Shanidar Proto-Neolithic and the Ganj-Dareh Tepe Early Neolithic Human Skeletal Collections. Columbia University, 1989, Doctoral Dissertation, UMI, Bell & Howell Information Company, Michigan 48106. "Artificial Cranial Deformation in the Proto-Neolithic and Neolithic Near East and its possible Origin: Evidence from Four Sites", Meiklejohn C., Agelarakis A., Peter A. Akkermans, Smith L.E. Philip and R. Solecki, Paleorient, (1992), 18: 2, 83-97.  "The Shanidar Cave Proto-Neolithic Human Population: Aspects of Demography and Paleopathology",  Human Evolution,(1993), 8:4, 235-253. Agelarakis, A. P., and Serpanos, Y. C., (2002), “On the Prevalence of External Auditory Exostoses Among the Proto-Neolithic Homo sapiensPopulation of Shanidar Cave, Iraq”, Human Evolution, 17, 248-252. Solecki, R., Solecki, R., Agelarakis, A. P., (2004), The Proto-Neolithic Cemetery in Shanidar Cave,  College Station, Texas: A&M University Press. “The Chalcolithic Burial Cave in Ma’avarot, Israel, and its Paleoanthropological Implications”, International Journal of Osteo-Archaeology, (1998), 8, 431-443.   “Paleopathology and its Contributions to the Decipherment of the Human Condition in Antiquity: A Preliminary Report for the Case of two Skeletal Populations from Malloura in Cyprus”,  Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus, (1997), 239-250.  “The Osseous Record in the Western Necropolis of Amathous: an Archaeo-Anthropological Investigation”.  Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus-Dodecanese-Crete 16th-6th c. B.C., Proceedings of the International Symposium: The Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus-Dodecanese-Crete 16th-6th c. B.C., Rethymnon, Crete, (1998), 217-232. “The Long Island Massapequa Fort Burials”, in Solecki R., “The Archaeology of Fort Neck and Vicinity, Massapequa, Long Island, New York”, (Ed.) G. Stone “Native Forts of the Long Island Sound Area”, Readings in Long Island Archaeology and Ethnohistory, V. VIII, Suffolk County Archaeological Association & Nassau County Archaeological Committee, New York, (2006), 230. "Archaeological Forensics and Paleopathology", in (Ed.) J. Grossman “The Excavation, Analysis, and Reconstruction of the Transitional Period, Late Woodland Period and Colonial Occupations at the Little Wood Creek Site, Fort Edward, Washington County, New York”. New York State Historic Preservation Office, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation- Washington D.C., Project  Reference No: C36‑130‑5‑01, (1990), Volume IV. "The Environmental and Subsistence Patterns, Reconstructions", in (Ed.) J. Grossman “The Excavation, Analysis, and Reconstruction of the Transitional Period, Late Woodland Period and Colonial Occupations at the Little Wood Creek Site, Fort Edward, Washington County, New York”. New York State Historic Preservation Office, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation- Washington D.C   Project Reference No: C36‑130‑5‑01. (1990), Volume I: Section 1.8. "Field Methods and Techniques", and " Geomorphological and Stratigraphic  Sequences" in (Ed.) J. Grossman  “Preliminary Report on the Archaeological Mitigation of the Pre-Columbian Ceremonial Plaza and Settlement at Rincon, Puerto Rico”. The Puerto Rican Environmental Quality Board and State Historic Preservation Office, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation- Washington D.C.  Project Reference No:C72 100 01, (1990/91), 1995. "Site Excavation and Field Strategies" and "The Stratigraphy and Geomorphology of L-22 and L-23" in (Ed.) J. Grossman “Preliminary Excavation and Analysis Results of Archaeological Investigations at Mediania Alta (L-23) and Vieques (L-22) Loiza, Puerto Rico”.  The Puerto Rican Environmental Quality Board and State Historic Preservation Office, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation-Washington D.C., V.: I.  Project Re. No: C 72 9423 (1990/91), V: I. "Report on the Main Burial of the Mycenaean Human Skeletal Remains excavated from Archontiki Site, Psara, Greece",  OSSA: International Journal of Skeletal Research, (1986-87), 13, 3-11. "Analyses of Cremated Human Skeletal Remains Dating to the Seventh Century BC, Chios, Greece",  Horos: Ena Archaeognostiko Periodiko (1986), 4, 145-153.  Agelarakis P. A., and Agelarakis A., (1989), "The Palaeopathological Evidence, Indicators of Stress and Dietary Evaluations from two Skeletal Populations, a Middle and a Late Byzantine, from Polystylon Abdera, Greece". Co-author with Argiro Agelarakis, Byzantinische Forschungen XIV, 9-26. Agelarakis, A. P., and Eustratiou, N., (1996), "Skeletal Remains from the Neolithic Site of Makri-Thrace: A Preliminary Report".  Proceedings of the Second Symposium of the Hellenic Archaeometrical Society: Archaeometrical and Archaeological Research in Macedonia and Thrace,Greece, 11-21.

22."Excavations at Polystylon (Abdera) Greece: Aspects of Mortuary Practices and Skeletal Biology", Archaiologiko Deltio, (1997), 47, 293-308.

Koukouli-Chrysanthaki Ch., Sgourou M., and Agelarakis A. P., “Archaeological Investigations at the Necropolis of Ancient Thasos: 1979-1996”,  Archaiologiko Ergo sti Makedonia kai Thraki, 10B 1996, (1997), 769-794. ”Reflections of the Human Condition in Prehistoric Thasos: Aspects of the Anthropological and Palaeopathological Record from the Settlement of Kastri”.  Actes du Colloque International Matières prèmieres et Technologie de la Préhistoire à nos jours, Limenaria, Thasos 1995,  French Archaeological Institute in Greece, (1999),  447-468. "Aspects of Demography and Palaeopathology among the Hellenistic Abderetesin Thrace, Greece”,  Eulimene, Int. J. Mediterranean  Archaeological & Anthropological SocietyRethymnon, Greece (2000), 1, 13-24. “On the Clazomenean Quest in Thrace during the 7th and 6th centuries BC, as Revealed through Anthropological Archaeology”,  Eulimene, Int. J. Mediterranean Archaeological & Anthropological Society , (2001), 2, 161-186. “Cremation Burial in LM IIIC-SubMinoan Crete and the Cemetery at Pezoulos Atsipades”. Cremations in Bronze and Early Iron Age, Proceedings of Int. Symposium, Ministries of the Aegean, and of Culture, Greece, (2001),  69-82. "Archaeological Anthropology at the Tumulus of Mikri Doxipara-Zoni" in (Eds.) D. Triantaphyllos, and D. Terzopoulou, Horses and Wagons in the Ancient World, Proceedings of Scientific Meeting, Orestiada-Greece, (2010), 127-131. “Scarred for Life: A Wounded Warrior from Late Classical Period in Mesokomi, Serres”, in B. Poulios “Late Classical Graves in Mesokomi of Serrres”, Proceedings of International Conference: “Serres and its Region from Ancient to Post-Byzantine Society”, (1998), A, 78-122. Rose, M., “Fallen Heroes: Identifying bones of Pericles ’ soldiers”.  Archaeology Journal, Archaeological Institute of America, (2000), 53:2, 42-45. “Report on the Anthropological Forensic and Palaeopathological Study of a Select Number of Human Skeletal Individuals from the Ancient Necropolis of Thasos”.  In M. Sgourou  Jewelry from Thasian Graves, BSA, (British Annals of Archaeology), (2001), 96, 355-364. Physical Anthropological Report on the Cremated Human Remains of an Individual Retrieved from the Amphipolis Agora (The Spartan General Brasidasof the Peloponnesian War?). Appendix in Ch. Koukouli-Chrysanthaki, Excavating Classical Amphipolis. Excavating Classical Culture: Recent Archaeological Discoveries in Greece (Eds.) Maria Stamatopoulou and Marina Yeroulanou. Beazley Archive - Studies in Classical Archaeology I, BAR S, (2002), 1031. “Investigations of Physical Anthropology & Palaeopathology at the Ancient Necropolis of Thasos”, In M. Sgourou,  “Excavating houses and graves: exploring aspects of everyday life and afterlife in ancient Thasos”,  BAR International Series1031 (2002), 12-19, Oxford, Archaeopress. Zafeiropoulou F., and Agelarakis A. P., (2005), “Warriors of Paros”,  Archaeology,58:1, 30-35.   “Memories of Aristocracy from the Geometric Period Orthi Petra in Eleutherna (Mnimes tis Aristokratias apo tin Orthi Petra tis Geometrikis Eleuthernas)”.  Proceedings of the International Symposium, The Aegean During the Early Iron Age, Rhodes. Ministry of Culture, Rhodes Archaeological and Historical Research Institute, University of Crete, Greece, (2004-2005), 77-84. The Anthropology of Tomb A1K1 of Orthi Petra in Eleutherna. A Narrative of the Bones: Aspects of the Human Condition in Geometric-Archaic Eleutherna, University of Crete, (2005), Rethymnon, Greece. “Early Evidence of Cranial Surgical Intervention in Abdera, Greece, a Nexus to On Head Woundsof the Hippocratic Corpus”,  MediterraneanArchaeology & Archaeometry, (2006), 6:1, 5-18. Agelarakis, A. P., and Serpanos Y. C., (2010), “Auditory Exostoses, Infracranial Skeleto-Muscular Changes and Maritime Activities in    Classical Period Thasos Island”, Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, 10:2, 45-57. “On the Anthropology Project of 35 Salaminos Street Site of Kerameikos, Athens: A Brief Account” Archaeologikes Symboles, Volume B: Attika, A’ and Γ’ Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities Authorities, Museum of Cycladic Art,  Athens, (2013), 369-386. Agelarakis A., et al. “Auditory Exostoses, Infracranial Skeleto-Muscular Changes and Maritime Activities at Thasos Island: A Nexus Between Archaeo-Anthropologic and Ethnohistoric Studies” In A.-C. Gillis (éd), Corps, travail et statut social. L'apport de la paléoanthropologie funéraire aux sciences historiques, Collection Archaiologia, Presses Universitaires du Septentrion, Lille, (2014), 153-174. Deciphering the Archaeological Record through Physical Anthropology: Ramifications of Social Hierarchy at Abdera During the Early Classical Time Period”. Actes 2e Symposium International Des Etudes Thraciennes: Thrace Ancienne, (1997), 2. 849-866. Agelarakis A., and Ch. Bakirtzis, “Cemeteries of Polystylon, Abdera: On Burial Customs and Practices”.  Rhodope”, Rhodopica   Smolyan, Bulgaria, (1998), 57-68.

43.“Complexity of factors implicated in the forensic assessments of ancient human cremated skeletal tissues including the possibility for methodological problems and biases of interpretation:  Exploring the cases of the Geometric-Archaic burial ground at Orthi Petra in Eleutherna, Crete, and the Classical Necropolis of Abdera in Thrace, Greece”.  Cremations during the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age, Ed. N. Ch. Stampolidis. Athens, Greece:  University of Crete, (2001), 405-415.

Bonn-Muller, E. "Making of a Martiline" - "Dynasty of Priestesses", On Line Features, Archaeology Magazine,  www.archaeology.org/online/features/eleutherna/interview.html‎ , (2010). “Arcane Whispers Echoed from Burial M at Orthi Petra in Eleutherna: Contributions of Anthropological Research” in (Eds.) N. Stampolidis and M. Giannopoulou “Princesses of the Mediterranean in the dawn of History”, Museum of Cycladic Art, University of Crete, Hellenic Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Athens-Greece, (2012), 189-204. Lohne J. J., and A. P. Agelarakis, “ Multielemental ICP-MS Analysis of Classical Period Archaeological Cremated Bone and Sediment Samples from Demosion Sema Polyandria of Salaminos 35 Site in Keramikos, Athens, Greece”, Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, (2014), 14:2, 259-273 “Cretans in Byzantine foreign policy and military affairs following the Fourth Crusade”, Cretika Chronika, (2012), 32, 41-78. “Intra-group dynamics, glimpses of labor diversity and specialization, and evidence of incipient social stratification in Neolithic Crete: Reflections from the Aposelemis Burial Ground”, Proceedings of the 12th International Congress of Cretan Studies, Herakleion, (2019), 1-17. A Dignified Passage through the Gates of Hades: The Burial Custom of Cremation and the Warrior Order of Ancient Eleutherna, Archaeopress Archaeology, Oxford, (2016). Parian Polyandreia: The Late Geometric Funerary Legacy of Cremated Soldiers' Bones on Socio-Political Affairs and Military Organizational Preparedness in Ancient Greece, Archaeopress, Oxford, (2017). Geometric Period Plithos Burial Ground at Chora of Naxos Island, Greece: Anthropology Report, Archaeopress Access Archaeology, Oxford, (2016). “Parian Polyandreia and the Military Legacy of Archilochus’ Forebears”, in (Ed.) D. Mulliez, Métropole et colonies, Proceedings of International Symposium- in memoriam Marina Sgourou, Recherches Franco-Hellénique, École française d’Athènes, Paris, (2017), 47-64. “An Ancient Greek Veteran-Warrior with Stafne's Cavity”, Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, (2014), 2, 361-366.  “Klazomenaeans of Three Continents: Emphasis on the 7th c. BC”, in (Eds.) N. Ch. Stampolidis, Ç. Manner, and K. Kopanias, Nostoi: Indigenous Culture, Migration and Integration in the Aegean Islands and Western Anatolia during the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age, KUP, Istanbul, (2015), Chapter 43, 923-981. Korka, E., and Agelarakis, A. P., “New Data on the Decorated Limestone Sarcophagus of Faneromeni in Chiliomodion of Corinth”, Archaeological Work in the Peloponnese, University of Peloponnese, Kalamata, (2018), 627-634. “Markers of Occupational Stress in Maritime Activities of Ancient Thasos Island: An Exersice in Ethno-Archaeology”, in (Ed.) A.-C. Gillis, “Corps, travail et statut social. L'apport de la paléoanthropologie funéraire aux sciences historiques”, Collection Archaiologia, Presses Universitaires du Septentrion, Lille, (2014), 153-174. Agelarakis, P. A., “The Fall of Polystylon Fort to the Ottomans: The Historical Context and the Narrative of its Decapitated Defender”, Byzantina Symmeikta, (2017), 27, 11-52. Agelarakis, P. A., and Agelarakis, A., “Abdera/ Polystylon: A Byzantine Town in Western Thrace in the Context of Historical Developments during the 6th – 14th Centuries as Depicted by its Archaeo-Anthropological Record”, Byzantina Symmeikta, (2015), 25, 11-56. Executed by Styrax in Ancient Thasos, Archaeopress Archaeology, Oxford, (2019). Eastern Roman Mounted Archers and Extraordinary Medico-Surgical Interventions at Paliokastro in Thasos Island during the ProtoByzantine Period. The Historical and Medical History Records and the Archaeo-Anthropological Evidence, Archaeopress, Access Archaeology, Oxford, (2020). “Bioarchaeological evidence reflective of the use of the kick-wheel by a female ceramicist in ancient Eleutherna”, in (Eds.) N. Ch. Stampolidis and M. Giannopoulou, Eleutherna and the Outside World, University of Crete/MAE, Rethymno, (2020), 206-218. Agelarakis, A., Agelarakis, A. P., and Weeks B., (2020), “Investigations on the nature, preparation, and medical effectiveness of Hippocratic cataplasms potentially used in the treatment of head trauma among warriors in Eleutherna and elsewhere in ancient Greece”, in (Eds.) N. Ch. Stampolidis and M. Giannopoulou, Eleutherna and the Outside World, University of Crete, 247-253. “On the Preservation and Conservation of Archaeologically Recovered Anthropological Remains: A Brief Communication to Younger Colleagues”, in (Ed.) E. Korka, The Protection of Archaeological Heritage in Times of Economic Crisis, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle upon Tyne, (2014), 254-259.

 

Links provided to external websites, including personal faculty sites, do not imply an endorsement by Adelphi University of those sites, their content, or associated products and services.