Biography
Published in 2009
For all her life, Catherine Abadie-Reynal has been curious about foreign civilizations. Born in 1955, this professor of archaeology at the University of Nancy, in France, firmly believes that research on different cultures can help prevent misunderstanding, ignorance and, ultimately, violence.
Much of her professional life has been devoted to Zeugma, in Turkey. Situated on the Euphrates, Zeugma was founded by one of Alexander the Great’s generals and became an important outpost on the Roman Empire’s eastern frontier. Described by some as “the Turkish Pompeii”, the site has beautifully decorated houses, tombs and other treasures.
In the 1990s, Abadie-Reynal was determined to document Zeugma’s riches as part of the site was to be submerged under a new hydro-electric dam. With funding from several sources, including her 1998 Rolex Award, she and her colleagues helped save some of the riches and extensively documented Zeugma, providing insights into the evolution of civilization.
Abadie-Reynal is now investigating other sites in the region.
- Project Location
- Similar Projects
Geoffrey Summers
Map and explore an Iron-Age city to rediscover an ancient way of life
Georgina Herrmann
Explore the Central Asian Silk Road caravan city of Merv
- Other 1998 Associate Laureates
- Contact Information
Ms Catherine Abadie-Reynal
Université de Nantes
Département d’Histoire
Chemin de la Censive du Tertre
Boîte postale 1025
44036 Nantes Cedex
France
