← Home
Archaeologist
Kim Bowes
Kim Bowes is an archaeologist at the University of Pennsylvania specializing in Roman economic history and material culture. She reconstructs the lives of ordinary Romans through archaeological evidence — pottery, coins, textiles, and architectural remains — rather than elite texts. Her work challenges traditional narratives by focusing on the 90 percent who powered Roman commerce.
Known For
Material evidence-based reconstruction of Roman economic lifeLandscape archaeology of Roman trade networksAnalysis of ordinary Roman daily transactions and consumption
Books
■Surviving Rome: The Economic Lives of the Ninety Percent(2025)