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Herzlichen Glückwunsch, Mette Bangsborg Thuesen!

Mette Bangsborg Thuesen, BerGSAS im Programm Languages and Cultures of the Silk Road | Foto: © Monika Radominska

1. Mette Bangsborg Thuesen, the topic of your dissertation is “From Pots to Practices – reconstructing commensality from Sasanian pottery”. Why did you choose this topic and what did you hope to find out?
Sasanian archaeology is a relatively niche and understudied field within West Asian archaeology, which is what initially sparked my interest. During my MA studies, I gave a seminar presentation on Sasanian architecture and religious practices, and while researching for this assignment, I was struck by how little attention archaeologists working in this region had paid to this historical epoch, even though we encounter its layers at most Mesopotamian sites. When I began my PhD, I wanted to nuance and deepen our understanding of this so-called “late period” and foster greater enthusiasm for the material culture that defines it. I specifically wanted to work with pottery, since these types of vessels were widely used within Sasanian society and could bring some perspectives on people’s everyday life and food ways within than period.

2. You were a doctoral student in BerGSAS and you have successfully completed the program “Languages and Cultures of the Silk Road (Silk Road)”. In your experience, what are the benefits of a structured PhD program?
I think some of the greatest benefits are the opportunities to get organizational experience, to participate in research networks, and to attend a wide range of workshops, where you can develop both your research and personal skills. More importantly as a student coming from abroad, BerGSAS gave me a network and an office space, where I could easily meet other PhD researchers, which made settling in Berlin easier. I particularly enjoyed being part of the ‘Silk Road’ group, because it gave me the possibility to discuss my topic with students from other disciplines, who could bring me new ideas and insights into my work.

3. What do you take away from your time as a doctoral student at BerGSAS?
The opportunity to work with my supervisors Reinhard Bernbeck and Susan Pollock has been a tremendous learning experience. I also deeply value the great friends I have made across the various programs at BerGSAS.

4. What advice would you give to students who are about to begin their PhD program?
Take advantage of the many opportunities that BerGSAS offers – apply for funding to invite that professor you always wanted to meet, participate in an exchange program and go abroad, or maybe form a new network! And always remember to take breaks. Writing a PhD is an exhausting and sometimes isolating experience, and when you get stuck, it’s often better to step away from the problem for a few days and then return to it with a fresh outlook.

5. During the “Berliner Antike in der James-Simon-Galerie” event on the 21st of November, you and other recent PhD graduates will receive your official PhD certificate. What do you plan to do next?
I am now employed as a project curator in the Middle East Department at the British Museum, where I am overseeing the documentation and digitisation of the department’s archaeological assemblage for the next few years. Apart from excavating the museum’s storerooms, I am also participating in fieldwork in Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan, where I am working as a find specialist.


OpenEdition schlägt Ihnen vor, diesen Beitrag wie folgt zu zitieren:
teamredaktion (20. November 2025). Herzlichen Glückwunsch, Mette Bangsborg Thuesen! Berliner Antike*-Blog. Abgerufen am 10. April 2026 von https://doi.org/10.58079/156jf


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