Profile

Ben is interested in traditional building technologies and archaeological recording methods for both sites and standing buildings. He has a BA in classical archaeology from Queens University, and an MA from the University of British Columbia. In 1998 he moved to the UK to study Architectural Conservation in the Institute for Advanced Architectural Studies at the University of York.

In the department, Ben carries out research in Conservation, Buildings Archaeology, and Landscape Survey and is involved with various archaeological fieldwork projects both in the UK and abroad.

He works closely with Nigel Copsey of the Earth Stone and Lime Co . on conservation projects in Yorkshire, and geophysical and buildings surveys with On Site Archaeology.

Teaching:

• Topographical Survey
• Vernacualr buildings
• Buildings Survey
• Geophysical Survey
• Geographic Information Systems
• Second Year Computing
• Undergraduate Field School

Research groups

• Archaeological Information Systems
• Landscape and society
• Material Cultures

Research Interests

Archaeological work has largely been focused on landscapes, and with a regional focus on the Eastern Mediterranean, and includes geophysical and archaeological survey projects at the ancient Sikyon (in collaboration with the University of Thessaly), Stymphalos (Canadian Institute of Archaeology in Athens) and the Saronic Gulf (Kenchreai Excavations, and the Saronic Harbors Archaeological Research Project).

Conservation and buildings archaeology interests are focussed around the conservation of traditional building technologies and craft skills; Recent surveys have focused on timber from a construction and carpentry in practice in medieval York, and the use of earth as  building material in the vernacular traditions of northeast yorkshire.

Current Projects

Publications

• 2009 Gourley, B., Y. Lolos, A. Sarris (in press). 'Application of Integrated Geophysical Prospection Techniques for Mapping Ancient Sikyon, Greece', Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on Advances in Remote Sensing for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Management, Rome 30/9-4/10, 2008

• 2008 Lolos, Y., B. Gourley, A. Sarris, C. Hayward, C. Trainor, E. Kiriantzi, N. Papadopoulos (in press). 'Surveying the Sikyonian plateau: integrated approach to the study of an ancient cityscape', Proceedings of the 5th Symposium of the Hellenic Society of Archaeometry, Athens 8-10/10/2008.

• 2007 Lolos, Y. Gourley, B. and Stewart, D. 2007. The Sikyon Survey Project: A Blueprint For Urban Survey, JMA 20 No. 2: 267-296

• 2007 Williams, H and Gourley, B. The Urban Plan of Ancient Stymphalos, AIA annual meeting San Diego: Session 5D: Greek Cities and Urban Development

• 2005 Gourley, B and Williams, H. 'The fortifications of Ancient Stymphalos' Mouseion 5 (2005) pp. 213-259

• 2000 Eds. John Hurd and Ben Gourley Terra Britannica: A Celebration of Earthen Structures in Great Britain and Ireland. James and James (ISBN 1902916131)

• 1998 Williams, Schaus,Cronkite Price, Gourley, Hagerman, 'Excavations at Ancient Stymphalos, 1997' Mouseion (1998) pp. 261-319