Dr. Paul Collins research interests range over several areas in ancient Near Eastern studies, in particular on the role of visual representation, focussing on Mesopotamia (ancient Iraq) in the third millennium BC and the Neo-Assyrian period.
Much of Collins’ time is spent on curatorial duties, focusing on the care and provision of access to the Ashmolean’s ancient Near East collections. Current research projects include refining the chronology of mid-third millennium BC Kish and a study of relations between ancient Iran and Mesopotamia.