An active archaeologist, Dr. Cline’s research has focused on the artistic commemoration of the Roman emperors and the use of decorative, imitative surfaces in Roman imperial period houses and villas. From 2006-2010 she worked as a member of the Oplontis Project, producing a comprehensive study of the mosaics and painted pavements discovered in the Imperial villa (“Villa A” of Poppea) at Oplontis, near Pompeii in the Bay of Naples.
In 2022, along with co-editor Dr. Nathan Elkins (Baylor University/American Numismatic Society), she published The Oxford Handbook of Roman Imagery and Iconography with Oxford University Press. The volume focuses on visual imagery in the Roman world, examined by context and period, and the evolving scholarly traditions of iconographic analysis and visual semiotics that have framed the modern study of these images.
Currently, Dr. Cline co-directs, with Dr. Kathryn Jasper (History), the Northwest Bolsena Archaeological Project and Valle Gianni field school. The site of Valle Gianni is home to a monumental, Roman imperial period fountain and medium scale wine manufacturing operation. Students wishing to participation in the field school should visit: https://about.illinoisstate.edu/vallegianni/.
Recent publications
Oxford Handbook of Roman Imagery and Iconography, co-edited with Nathan Elkins. Oxford University Press, 2022.
Reviews: The Journal of Roman Studies 1-2 (2023) (Claudia Schmieder)
BMCR 2023.05.19 (Eric Moormann)
with Erin Mikulec and Kathryn Jasper, “I can navigate the world:” Student reflections of study abroad – Evidence from one university campus.” The Journal for Research and Practice in College Teaching 4, no. 1 (2019): 84-109.
with Regina Gee, “Paint on Floors, Stone on Walls: Renovation, Style Chronologies, and Surface Value in the Decorative Schemes at Villa A, Oplontis (Torre Annunziata, Italy).” In Actes du XIIIe Colloque l’Association Internationale pour l’Etude de la Mosaïque Antique (Madrid, Spain, September 14-18, 2015), edited by Luz Neria Jiménez. Madrid, 2017.
“Painted Pavements: Illusion and Imitation at Villa A (“of Poppaea”) at Oplontis.” Selected Papers in Ancient Art and Architecture, AIA Monographs, vol. 1, edited by Sarah Lepinski and Susanna McFadden. Boston, 2015.
“Pavements and Mosaics at Villa A.” In Villa A (“of Poppaea”) at Torre Annunziata, Italy (Oplontis), 50 B.C.-A.D. 79, edited by John R Clarke and Nayla Muntasser. Washington, D.C.: American Council of Learned Societies, 2015.
“Surface Matters: New Evidence for the Treatment of Roman Pavements.” In Actes du XIIe Colloque Internationale pour l’Etude de la Mosaïque Antique (Venice, Italy, 11-15 September 2012), edited by Giordiana Trovabene. Venice, 2014.
“Imitation vs. Reality: Zebra Stripe Paintings and Imitation Marble in the late Fourth Style at Oplontis.” In Actes du XIe Colloque de l’Association Internationale pour la Peinture Murale Antique (Ephesos 13-27 September, 2010), edited by Norbert Zimmerman. Wien, 2014.
with John Clarke “New Light on Mosaic Metrics: Research at Villa A, Torre Annunziata, Italy, 50 B.C. – A.D. 79.” In Acts of the 11th International Colloquium on Ancient Mosaics (Bursa 16-20 October 2009), edited by Mustafa Şahin, 247-258. Bursa, Turkey: Uludağ University Press, 2012.
“Rising from the Ashes: The Arae Incendii Neroniani in New Flavian Rome.” Athanor XXVII (Tallahassee: Florida State University Press, 2009), 15-24.