Dr. John Sigmier

Biography

John Sigmier is an archaeologist and architectural historian specializing in the Roman world. His research focuses on the architecture of the Roman provinces, particularly the development of theater architecture in Roman Northwest and the exchange of knowledge across ancient networks. Currently, he is involved in a book project exploring how locally generated designs and construction techniques by provincial builders diverged from standard Italian architectural models. Sigmier has received fellowships from the Fulbright Foundation and the Kolb Society, as well as the Penn Museum. As an active field archaeologist, he participates in international excavations, including working with the Harvard-Cornell project at Sardis in western Turkey, where he documents and studies the monumental Roman gates of the city, the largest of their kind known in the Roman Empire. He also excavates the site of Falerii Novi in central Italy and is a staff member of the Falerii Novi Project, where he researches and documents the architectural remains of its theater. In addition to his research, Sigmier teaches courses that cover various aspects of Roman art, architecture, and archaeology, emphasizing practical learning and engagement with museum collections and digital tools.

Research Interests

Experience