Research Team

Host Institution – Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics, N.S.C.R. “Demokritos”

Dr Artemios Oikonomou, Archaeological Scientist, Principal Investigator

Dr Oikonomou’s research focuses on the application of state of the art scientific techniques on the study of ancient and historical materials as a means for: a. the identification of ancient technological aspects, b. answering archaeological questions in relation to the reconstruction of ancient technologies, c. changing technological practices through space and time, d. the provenance of ancient materials, e. the fusion of scientific results with aspects of the humanities. As an archaeological scientist, he is involved in various interdisciplinary research projects, both as Principal Investigator (PI) and as Research Associate (RA), in the broad field of Archaeological Science.

Dr Maria Kaparou, Archaeologist, Archaeological Scientist, Post-Doctoral Researcher

In the core of Dr Maria’s Kaparou research lies the in- depth study and analysis of archaeological and historical artifacts via the application of a vast array of state-of-the-art techniques, both from an analytical and an archaeological perspective. She aims at addressing questions related to provenance, technology, trade and societal issues, towards the reconstruction of ancient societies and technologies. As an archaeological scientist, she has been involved in various interdisciplinary research projects both as a Research Associate (RA) and as a Group leader.

Ourania Kordali, MSc, Conservator Scientist, Research Collaborator

Ourania Kordali studied Conservation of Works of Art and Antiquities and holds a MSc in Cultural Heritage Materials and Technologies from the University of the Peloponnese, Greece. Currently , she is a PhD candidate at University of West Attica, and her research focuses on the corrosion of ancient glass and conservation treatments. As a team leader as well as a collaborator she participated in numerous research projects and since 2014 she is an active conservation professional. Her research interests include the analysis of inorganic archaeological materials, conservation and reconstruction of monuments and research in modern conservation materials.

Kalliopi Tsampa, MSc, Physicist, Research Collaborator

Kalliopi Tsampa is a graduate of the Physics Department at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and holds an MSc from the School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the National Technical University of Athens, where she has been a PhD candidate since 2020. Both her MSc and PhD studies have been conducted in association with X-ray Fluoresce Laboratory of the Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics at the National Centre for Scientific Research (NCSR) “Demokritos”. Kalliopi’s research focuses on the application of X-ray-based techniques (MA-XRF, portable milli-beam, micro-beam, and Handheld XRF) and Ion beam techniques (Particle-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) and Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS)) in the study of archaeological and historical materials, with her expertise lying in archaeological gold and pigments.

Collaborating Institutions – National Archaeological Museum

Dr Konstantinos Nikolentzos, Archaeologist, Head of the Department of Prehistoric, Egyptian, Cypriot and Oriental Antiquities Collections

Konstantinos Nikolentzos was born in Athens in 1972. He studied Archeology and History of Art at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, where he has also supported his doctoral thesis on "Mycenaean Elis: Cultural and Political Evolution, Ethnological Data and Problems", after he had previously completed his Master in Prehistoric Archaeology. At the same time, he worked as an archaeologist in various regional or central administrative entities of the Ministry of Culture (5th and 7th Ephorates of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, National Archive of Monuments, Epigraphic Museum). After graduating the National School of Public Administration (in 2003) he was initially appointed to the General Directorate of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage and he had worked as an archaeologist at the Ephorate of Antiquities of Elis (2006-2010), then at the Directorate for the Documentation and Protection of Cultural Properties (2010-2015). Since 2015 he is the Head of the Department of Prehistoric, Egyptian, Cypriot and Oriental Antiquities Collections at the National Archaeological Museum. His scientific interests are focused on the Late Bronze Age in mainland Greece, as well as the history of Archeology and its perception in modern Greece.

Dr Katia Manteli, Archaeologist, Curator of Antiquities

Dr Manteli specializes in Prehistoric Archaeology, having obtained her Ph.D. at the Institute of Archaeology, University College, University of London. She has taken part in prehistoric excavations in Greece, worked in several Ephorates of Antiquities and as lecturer at the University of Crete. As a specialized archaeologist, has participated in interdisciplinary research projects, in Greek and international conferences and published articles in scientific periodicals.

Dr Katerina Voutsa, Archaeologist, Curator of Antiquities

Dr Katerina’s Voutsa scientific interests include the Prehistoric Archaeology of the Aegean and more specifically the Linear B script. She has participated in the Program for Prehistoric Technology at the National Hellenic Research Foundation and has been member of several excavations in Greece and Cyprus. Her publications include contributions on Mycenaean economy and the bureaucratic procedures in use by the Mycenaean Palaces.

Dr Georgianna Moraitou, Head of Conservation, Physical-Chemical Research & Archaeometry Department

Moraitou Georgianna is the Head of Conservation, Physical-Chemical Research & Archaeometry Department of the National Archaeological Museum at Athens. She studied at the Panthėon Sorbonne – Paris I (1976-1979) Histoire option Archėologie (DEUG) and obtained the Certificat Pratique de Maitrise Sciences Techniques (CP1-CP2). She continued her studies in the Conservation of Archaeological Materials and Material Science at the Institute of Archaeology, London University (now University College) (BSc 1983). Since 1983 she works at the Hellenic Ministry of Culture in different museums and archaeological sites. In 2014 she completed her PhD at the Technical University of Athens.