Dr. Stephen DeCasien

I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Humanities at Dalian University of Technology (DUT), China. I hold a PhD in Anthropology (Nautical Archaeology) from Texas A&M University, with a specialization in Greek and Roman maritime history and archaeology. My research focuses on ancient naval warfare, warships, and naval rams. I have published widely in both peer-reviewed academic journals and popular venues, including the Journal of Archaeological Science and the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, among others.

My most well-known project involved an experimental archaeology reconstruction in which I led the successful casting of a full-scale ancient naval ram, interpreted as a quinquereme-class warship ram, using historically informed techniques. This represents the first reconstruction of its kind completed in over 1,500 years.

I have also participated in the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA) Summer Session (2018) and the American Academy in Rome (AAR) Classical Summer School (2022), which further shaped my training in classical archaeology and ancient maritime studies. My fieldwork experience spans Greece, Italy, and the United States, including work with RPM Nautical Foundation’s underwater archaeological surveys at the Battle of the Egadi Islands (241 BCE) in Sicily and research related to Octavian’s victory monument at Actium (after 31 BCE) in Greece.

Originally from the Atlantic City area in New Jersey, I also lived in Florida and Texas during my graduate studies. Outside of academia, I follow the Philadelphia Eagles, read (too much!), and enjoy weight training, sports, sci-fi films and television, and historically based video games.

Feel free to reach out or follow my research through my social media channels!