Dr. Pitt is the program head of Archaeology and Ancient Studies. She teaches a variety of courses that cover the history and archaeology of the ancient Mediterranean world. In addition to courses with a heavy academic focus, Dr. Pitt also teaches courses that instruct students in the the field methodology and practice of archaeological excavation, artifact processing, cataloguing, analysis, and interpretation. She works closely with the History and Art History programs as well the Arts Management Certificate.
Courses Taught
ARAS 102 - Classical Mythology
ARAS 105 - The Ancient Mediterranean Laboratory
ARAS 216 - Magic and Witchcraft in the Ancient World
ARAS 220 - Cultural Heritage Management and Stewardship
ARAS 225 - The Ancient World in 12 Objects
ARAS 265 - The Archaeology of Everyday Life
ARAS 310 - Imperialism in the Ancient World
ARAS 321 - Cities and Urban Spaces in the Ancient World
ARAS 334 - Disaster in the Ancient Mediterranean
ARAS 356 - Contemporary Theory in Archaeology
ARAS 452 - Senior Seminar
CORE 140 - Sustainable Systems
Dr. Pitt’s dissertation explored the urban history of the Roman provinces of Pontus-Bithynia and Paphlagonia and analyzed the factors that contributed to the stability and growth of cities during the tumultuous third and fourth centuries CE.
Her research focuses on the influence, dynamics and connectivity of ancient urban development, particularly the colonies of the Roman Empire. Her other research interests include strategies of and responses to Roman imperialism, Greek and Latin epigraphy, the role of women in the urban transformation of the provinces, archaeological methodology, cultural heritage management and public humanities.
Dr. Pitt has participated as a supervisor in several archaeological field projects throughout the Mediterranean, including Chianciano, Italy (2006), the imperial villa of Maxentius in Rome (2007-2008) and the Roman Forum Excavations Project in Butrint (2012-2013). From 2008 to 2018 she was also a supervisor and the assistant director of the Via Consolare Project in Pompeii. She continues to work in Pompeii as the co-director of the Roman Colonial Urbanism Project and in Butrint, Albania, as the assistant director of the Roman Forum Excavations, sponsored by the University of Notre Dame. Beginning in the Summer of 2023, Dr. Pitt will commence small-scale excavations at the fortified Hellenistic settlement of Matohasanaj in central Albania with the participation of Sweet Briar and Albanian archaeology students.