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Leonard V. Rutgers is a prominent archaeologist and historian specializing in Late Antiquity. He has led the international Genetic Legacies project, utilizing previously unpublished genetic data to illuminate the history of Jewish communities in Europe from 0 to 1500. This project is a collaboration with David Reich from Harvard University and various archaeologists and heritage professionals across Europe. His interdisciplinary approach integrates archaeology with natural sciences and digital methods, particularly in researching Jewish and early Christian catacombs in Rome. Rutgers has also directed archaeological projects focusing on the Rise of Christianity and the Reconfiguring Diaspora, garnering extensive international attention and coverage in leading publications such as Nature. His research interests encompass migration, diaspora, cultural interaction, and the positions of religious minorities. Furthermore, he develops innovative digital platforms and geo-spatial models for Jewish migration in collaboration with the Digital Humanities Lab at Utrecht University. Rutgers is a member of the Pontificia Accademia Romana di Archeologia and the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities, and he has edited the Cambridge Encyclopedia of Late Antique Art and Archaeology. He values public engagement in research, having written a popular weekly column for the Dutch Financial and authored multiple well-received popular science books on archaeology. His contributions have been recognized with awards such as the Homerus Prize, and he is actively working on his fourth popular-science book regarding ancient DNA and population genetics.
Department of Psychology