Dr. Bridget Buxton Gives Seminar Series
The Classics Department hosted Dr. Bridget Buxton, an underwater archaeologist from the University of Rhode Island, from March 23 to 30. During her visit, she gave a public lecture and led four lunch seminars which discussed topics ranging from her interpretations of ancient Roman monuments to her techniques for finding shipwrecks on the ocean floor. Buxton explored the process of questioning assumptions and methodically analyzing the available evidence in order to arrive at the best conclusions about ancient artifacts. She encouraged students to approach ancient history with the willingness to challenge modern interpretations, even if they are widely accepted.
Currently, Buxton is on the forefront of using new imaging technologies to discover shipwrecks that were previously out of reach. Her seminar demonstrated that solving the most difficult problems in classics requires as large of a “toolbox” as possible, both in terms of technical knowledge and the ability to synthesize material and linguistic evidence. Buxton also emphasized the necessity of questioning conventional wisdom and viewing problems with skepticism. Chair of the Classics Department Nicholas Unger listed the purpose of the program as exposing students to cutting-edge research in the classics such as Buxton’s work.
“Professor Buxton has walked us through the process of critically and thoughtfully looking at artifacts and thinking of alternative interpretations of the meaning and significance behind those artifacts.”
“That's why classical research is so exciting right now—the fragmentary nature of the evidence makes it a real intellectual challenge, and the multidisciplinary nature of the research makes it a real team enterprise,” Unger stated. He is “certain that she has inspired some students to consider a career in classical studies and underwater archaeology.”
Originally from New Zealand, Buxton received her first degree at Victoria University before coming to the United States, where she studied at the University of California Berkeley. Though her interest in Latin and Ancient Rome can be traced back to high school, she did not begin studying archaeology until coming to the U.S. Buxton thanks her teachers at Victoria University and University of California Berkeley for helping her develop the methodology she now uses in her own work.
“They wouldn’t let you say anything in a seminar unless you could justify it, and it's interesting how often we discover that our justifications are very flimsy,” Buxton noted. When preparing for her talks at Exeter, Buxton knew that she “wanted to do something that was a little bit about the methodology of [her] field because Exeter is associated with such an amazing methodology of learning.”
One striking feature of Buxton’s seminars was the confidence with which she proposed theories about antiquity that contradicted what most other scholars believe. However, Buxton said her work does not center around the concept of belief. “There is either evidence for something—and it could be good evidence or it could be bad evidence, though it's usually bad evidence if it's ancient history—or the evidence suggests something else,” she explained.
She also pointed out that the process of understanding ancient history does not come down to a personal quest. She considers it problematic if someone has an ego tied to their ideas and believes the purpose of a seminar is to simply enjoy it, no matter if you “win or lose.” She hopes her seminar instilled a sense of confidence in students and taught them not to worry about other peoples’ opinions.
Buxton’s five-part lecture and seminar series showed students the extent of the room for discovery in classics and classical archaeology. She said that there is always something new to find. “There are still mountains left to climb in our field and maybe even some of the biggest ones,” she said, adding that “if you are really ambitious, there is something worthy of your ambition.”
Upper Lyle Seeligson, who attended Buxton’s seminars, was highly impressed by her knowledge of the subjects and her skill as a lecturer. “Professor Buxton has walked us through the process of critically and thoughtfully looking at artifacts and thinking of alternative interpretations of the meaning and significance behind those artifacts,” Seeligson said.
Lower Molly Canfield echoed this sentiment. She described the talks as both engaging and funny and said, “I went into the seminars knowing practically nothing about archaeology and ancient Rome and Greece, but I could understand almost everything that she said.” She also added that she is “curious to see what happens in the future with underwater archaeology and how our modern perception of ancient history will change with new discoveries.”