Staff profile

I research and teach across a range of topics in Classical Greek archaeology and history, with a particular focus on applying Digital Humanities methods to ancient evidence through geospatial and agent-based modelling, multivariate statistics, and social network analysis. My main regional interests lie in the archaeology of the Cyclades and the Ionian coast.

Before joining Durham, I completed my studies in Cambridge, also spending time at the Ruhr Universität Bochum and in Athens. I subsequently served as Assistant Director at the British School at Athens for three years, before holding a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship at Cambridge, where I was also Director of Studies in Classics and Praelector at Queens’ College.

My first book explored the formation of political and economic networks in Archaic Greece, drawing on the archaeological ‘big data’ preserved in legacy excavation catalogues (review by Megan Daniels). My current research on the ancient economy moves into the fifth century BCE, developing an archaeology of the so-called Athenian Empire. It seeks to reconstruct the networks, routes, and systems that underpinned economic activity across the Aegean and wider Mediterranean. 

I am also beginning a new project on the archaeology of production, which aims to quantify the scale of ancient labour involved in creating Greek artworks and to explore how economic and social dynamics within island and agricultural communities shifted during large-scale building projects.

As a field archaeologist, I have a decade of experience working on projects in Greece, Turkey and Britain. Most recently I have been a researcher for the Palace of Nestor Excavations at Pylos and a co-director for the West Area of Samos Archaeological Project (2021-2024).

Another key strand of my work is archival archaeology, particularly the history of institutions and scholars of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. I have worked on the archives of George Finlay and Lord William Taylour, and I continue to work with the archives of the Pylos project to ‘rebuild’ legacy excavation contexts in digital environments. I also collaborated on the Digital Thessaly project, which digitised and linked Alan Wace’s early excavation notebooks preserved in Cambridge and Athens.

Supervision and mentorship

If you have an idea for a PhD or postdoctoral project in Greek archaeology, I would be very happy to discuss supervision. I welcome proposals that use either Digital Humanities approaches or more traditional analytical methods.

I also co-convene an ECR study network for UK-based PhDs and postdocs working on Late Bronze Age, Early Iron Age, and Archaic period archaeology. If you would like to join our mailing list or participate in events, please get in touch.

Schools talks and outreach

Please do get in touch —I love working with school groups! Past sessions for schools have included: the Homeric World, the archaeology of ancient theatres, Bronze Age tombs, the archaeology of Plato’s Symposium, and life in the Roman military.

• Greek archaeology
• Digital humanities
• Archaic and Classical Greece
• Economic and social history
• Cyclades and Ionia
• Archival archaeology

• 2025: Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries: FSA
• 2024: Fellow of Advance HE: FHEA
• 2023 - 2024: Leverhulme Trust: Early Career Fellowship
• 2021 - 2024: West Area of Samos Archaeological Project: Co-director
• 2019 - 2022: British School at Athens: Assistant Director

Authored book

• Connecting Communities in Archaic Greece: Exploring Economic and Political Networks through Data Modelling
  
  Loy, M. (2023). Connecting Communities in Archaic Greece: Exploring Economic and Political Networks through Data Modelling. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009343794

Book review

• John Ma, Polis. A New History of the Ancient Greek City-State from the Early Iron Age to the End of Antiquity. pp. 713. Princeton University Press, 2024. ISBN 9780691155388, hardcover.
  
  Loy, M. (in press). John Ma, Polis. A New History of the Ancient Greek City-State from the Early Iron Age to the End of Antiquity. pp. 713. Princeton University Press, 2024. ISBN 9780691155388, hardcover. Journal of Greek Archaeology.
• (I.) LEMOS and (A.) KOTSONAS A Companion to the Archaeology of Early Greece and the Mediterranean (Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell, 2020. Pp. xxviii + 1384. £303. 9781118770191.
  
  Loy, M. (2022). (I.) LEMOS and (A.) KOTSONAS A Companion to the Archaeology of Early Greece and the Mediterranean (Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell, 2020. Pp. xxviii + 1384. £303. 9781118770191. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, 142, 423-424. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0075426922000799
• Review of Achim Lichtenberger, Rubina Raja, The archaeology of seasonality
  
  Loy, M. (2022). Review of Achim Lichtenberger, Rubina Raja, The archaeology of seasonality. Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 9, 09.
• Review of Katja Sporn, Alexandra Kankeleit, Die Abteilung Athen des DAI und die Aktivitäten deutscher Archäologen in Griechenland 1874-1933
  
  Loy, M. (2022). Review of Katja Sporn, Alexandra Kankeleit, Die Abteilung Athen des DAI und die Aktivitäten deutscher Archäologen in Griechenland 1874-1933. Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 7.

Chapter in book

• Sailing: ships and routes
  
  Loy, M. (in press). Sailing: ships and routes. In H. Beck, C. Constantakopoulou, & J. McInerney (Eds.), The Oxford History of the Classical Greek World.
• Lord William Taylour: parallel lives in Greece and Cambridge
  
  Loy, M. (in press). Lord William Taylour: parallel lives in Greece and Cambridge. In R. Raja, M. Stamatopoulou, & O. Bobou (Eds.), Turning the Page: Archaeological Archives and Entangled Cultural 
Knowledge.
• Travelling to the temple of Poseidon at Sounion. Land routes and sea routes
  
  Loy, M. (in press). Travelling to the temple of Poseidon at Sounion. Land routes and sea routes. In E. Angliker (Ed.), Traveling and Cult Practices in the Ancient Mediterranean. Cambridge University Press.

Conference Paper

• Towards a workflow for documenting, processing and archiving large excavation contexts on-the-fly. Challenges and lessons learnt at the Palace of Nestor Project, Pylos
  
  Putzolu, C., Loy, M., Wallrodt, J., Stocker, S. R., & Davis, J. L. (in press). Towards a workflow for documenting, processing and archiving large excavation contexts on-the-fly. Challenges and lessons learnt at the Palace of Nestor Project, Pylos. In Proceedings of the Computer Applications in Archaeology Conference 2021, ‘Digital Crossroads’.
• The export of marble in the sixth century BC: Paros and its networks
  
  Loy, M. (2021). The export of marble in the sixth century BC: Paros and its networks. In D. Katsonopoulou (Ed.), Paros V. Paros through the ages. From Prehistoric times to the 16th Century AD. Proceedings of the fifth International conference on the Archaeology of Paros and the Cyclades. (pp. 181–96).

Edited book

• Archaeological Reports vol. 70
  
  Loy, M., Mouratidis, G., & Parikh, T. (Eds.). (2024). Archaeological Reports vol. 70. Cambridge University Press.
• Archaeological Reports vol. 69
  
  Loy, M., Mouratidis, G., & Parikh, T. (Eds.). (2023). Archaeological Reports vol. 69. Cambridge University Press.
• The Archaeology and Topography of Greece. Fifty years of the British School at Athens Undergraduate Course
  
  Loy, M., Smith, K., & Salmon, N. (Eds.). (2022). The Archaeology and Topography of Greece. Fifty years of the British School at Athens Undergraduate Course. Shortrun Press.

Journal Article

• The landscape and networks of southwest Samos: new evidence from surface-survey ceramics
  
  Loy, M., & Huy, S. (in press). The landscape and networks of southwest Samos: new evidence from surface-survey ceramics. Annual of the British School at Athens, 120.
• Born-digital data collection for archaeological survey
  
  Loy, M. (in press). Born-digital data collection for archaeological survey. Antike Welt, 56.
• The West Area of Samos Archaeological Project: results from south-west Samos
  
  Christophilopoulou, A., Huy, S., Loy, M., Mac Sweeney, N., & Mokrišová, J. (in press). The West Area of Samos Archaeological Project: results from south-west Samos. Annual of the British School at Athens, 120.
• Collecting Data in the Conservation Lab for Network Visualisation
  
  Hall, K., & Loy, M. (2025). Collecting Data in the Conservation Lab for Network Visualisation. Internet Archaeology, 69. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.69.8
• Professional and part-time potters and painters: modelling the production of Athenian black- and red-figure painted pottery
  
  Loy, M. (2025). Professional and part-time potters and painters: modelling the production of Athenian black- and red-figure painted pottery. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0075426925100323
• Field data from the West Area of Samos Archaeological Project (WASAP), 2021–2024
  
  Loy, M., Argyraki, K., Christophilopoulou, A., Delli, G., Evans, M., Huy, S., Katevaini, A., Mac Sweeney, N., Mokrišová, J., Regazzoni, E., & Vasileiou, A. (2025). Field data from the West Area of Samos Archaeological Project (WASAP), 2021–2024. Journal of Open Archaeology Data, 13, Article 9. https://doi.org/10.5334/joad.156
• Landscapes of (dis)connection: modelling connectivity in west Samos with least cost path analysis
  
  Loy, M. (2025). Landscapes of (dis)connection: modelling connectivity in west Samos with least cost path analysis. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 64, Article 105144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105144
• Born-digital field survey data: using a KoBo Toolbox workflow in the West Area of Samos Archaeological Project
  
  Loy, M., Katevaini, A., & Vasileiou, A. (2024). Born-digital field survey data: using a KoBo Toolbox workflow in the West Area of Samos Archaeological Project. Journal of Greek Archaeology, 9, 83–96.
• Introduction and overview
  
  Loy, M., & Parikh, T. (2024). Introduction and overview. Archaeological Reports, 70, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0570608424000097
• The Coastal Landscape of West Samos in the Seventh and Sixth Centuries BCE: Possible landing points and routes
  
  Loy, M. (2024). The Coastal Landscape of West Samos in the Seventh and Sixth Centuries BCE: Possible landing points and routes. The Mariner’s Mirror, 110(2), 132-149. https://doi.org/10.1080/00253359.2024.2331910
• The Samians on Ikaria: communities, power, and island networks in the Hellenistic and Roman Aegean
  
  Evans, M. P., & Loy, M. (2024). The Samians on Ikaria: communities, power, and island networks in the Hellenistic and Roman Aegean. Mediterranean Historical Review, 39(1), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/09518967.2024.2319521
• Coinage networks in fifth-century BCE Ionia
  
  Loy, M. (2024). Coinage networks in fifth-century BCE Ionia. Anatolian Studies, 74, 97-127. https://doi.org/10.1017/s006615462400005x
• Introduction and overview
  
  Loy, M., & Parikh, T. (2023). Introduction and overview. Archaeological Reports, 69, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0570608423000066
• GEORGE FINLAY IN EGYPT AND SWITZERLAND: NINETEENTH-CENTURY TRAVEL, SCHOLARSHIP AND SOCIAL NETWORKS
  
  Loy, M. (2023). GEORGE FINLAY IN EGYPT AND SWITZERLAND: NINETEENTH-CENTURY TRAVEL, SCHOLARSHIP AND SOCIAL NETWORKS. Antiquaries Journal, 103, 363-387. https://doi.org/10.1017/s000358152300032x
• A brief history of the BSA Museum Study Collection
  
  Loy, M. (2022). A brief history of the BSA Museum Study Collection. Archaeological Reports, 68, 221-248. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0570608422000035
• Shedding light on the matter: evaluating changing patterns of object dedication in Ionian sanctuaries (seventh/sixth – fifth/fourth centuries BC) with lexicometrical analysis
  
  Loy, M., & Slawisch, A. (2021). Shedding light on the matter: evaluating changing patterns of object dedication in Ionian sanctuaries (seventh/sixth – fifth/fourth centuries BC) with lexicometrical analysis. Journal of Greek Archaeology, 6, 166–99. https://doi.org/10.32028/9781789698886-9
• From Archive to GIS: Recovering Spatial Information for Tholos IV at the Palace of Nestor from the Notebooks of Lord William Taylour
  
  Loy, M., Stocker, S. R., & Davis, J. L. (2021). From Archive to GIS: Recovering Spatial Information for Tholos IV at the Palace of Nestor from the Notebooks of Lord William Taylour. Internet Archaeology, 56. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.56.5
• The islands of the Saronic Gulf: connections & cultural histories
  
  Loy, M. (2020). The islands of the Saronic Gulf: connections & cultural histories. Archaeological Reports, 66, 161-172. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0570608420000083
• EARLY MODERN TRAVELLERS IN THE AEGEAN: ROUTES AND NETWORKS
  
  Loy, M. (2019). EARLY MODERN TRAVELLERS IN THE AEGEAN: ROUTES AND NETWORKS. The Annual of the British School at Athens, 114, 369-398. https://doi.org/10.1017/s006824541900011x
• A Greek inscription with rider iconography from South Shields, Britain
  
  Loy, M., & Mullen, A. (2019). A Greek inscription with rider iconography from South Shields, Britain. Zeitschrift Für Papyrologie Und Epigraphik, 209, 140–144.

Other (Digital/Visual Media)

• R and ArcPy code for the analysis of archaeological survey geospatial data in the West Area of Samos Archaeological Project (WASAP)
  
  Loy, M. (2025). R and ArcPy code for the analysis of archaeological survey geospatial data in the West Area of Samos Archaeological Project (WASAP) [Dataset]. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15369189
• Archaeological field survey data from the West Area of Samos Archaeological Project (WASAP), 2021–2024
  
  Loy, M., Argyraki, K., Christofilopoulou, A., Delli, G., Evans, M., Huy, S., Katevaini, A., Mac Sweeney, N., Mokrišová, J., Regazzoni, E., & Vassiliou, A. (2025). Archaeological field survey data from the West Area of Samos Archaeological Project (WASAP), 2021–2024 [Dataset]. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14929961
• The Archaeology of Plato’s Symposium
  
  Loy, M. (2023, February 6). The Archaeology of Plato’s Symposium. UCL [Blog Post].
• Magoula Hunting or The Romance of Excavation
  
  Harlan, D., & Loy, M. (2022, June 26). Magoula Hunting or The Romance of Excavation [Online].
• What Euripides’ audience saw, and what he wanted them to see’, UCL Greek Play 2022: Euripides’ 
Electra Study Guide
  
  Loy, M. (2021, February 1). What Euripides’ audience saw, and what he wanted them to see’, UCL Greek Play 2022: Euripides’ 
Electra Study Guide [UCL Study Guide].
• Home is where the hearth is - Odysseus and Mycenae’, UCL Greek Play 2021: Homer’s Odyssey Study Guide
  
  Loy, M. (2021, February 1). Home is where the hearth is - Odysseus and Mycenae’, UCL Greek Play 2021: Homer’s Odyssey Study Guide [UCL Study Guide].
• Branding Mycenae: Now and Then Images from Social Media to the BSA SPHS Archive
  
  Loy, M. (2020, May 27). Branding Mycenae: Now and Then Images from Social Media to the BSA SPHS Archive. British School at Athens [British School of Athens news article].
• Pan, Plato, and the Nymphs: exploring Vari Cave
  
  Loy, M., & Elvira Astoreca, N. (2018, July 19). Pan, Plato, and the Nymphs: exploring Vari Cave. Res Gerendae [Res gerendae].
• The Lego Acropolis: history brick by brick
  
  Loy, M. (2018, May 30). The Lego Acropolis: history brick by brick. Res Gerendae [Res gerendae].

Report

• Work on the Poros Cemetery in the Coulson Conservation Lab
  
  Hall, K., Loy, M., & Tzari, M. (2024). Work on the Poros Cemetery in the Coulson Conservation Lab (Nos. 27).