UC archaeologist receives 2026 Athens Prize

University of Cincinnati archaeologist Jack L. Davis received the 2026 Athens Prize from the American School of Classical Studies at Athens during its annual gala May 7 at Gotham Hall.

The award recognizes scholars whose work has significantly advanced knowledge of ancient Greece, a distinction that reflects Davis’ decades-long impact on the field of Aegean archaeology.

Davis, the Carl W. Blegen Professor of Greek Archaeology in UC’s Department of Classics, has spent more than 50 years leading fieldwork, shaping scholarship and mentoring generations of students. His research has had a significant impact on how scholars understand Greek history from prehistoric times forward.

Colleagues have long recognized Davis for both his scholarship and his leadership. “We are delighted to bestow the Athens Prize on Jack Davis,” said William T. Loomis, president of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens’ board of trustees, noting his work as a field archaeologist, prolific scholar and mentor, along with his service to the institution.

Over the course of his career, Davis has helped guide major archaeological projects across Greece. Early in his work, he co-directed a survey on the island of Kea and analyzed finds from Melos, helping establish the Cyclades as a critical crossroads in Aegean history.

He later co-directed the Nemea Valley and Pylos Regional Archaeological Projects, placing important Bronze Age sites into broader historical context.

More recently, Davis and his wife and collaborator, archaeologist Sharon R. Stocker, have led excavations near the Bronze Age palace at Pylos. Their work uncovered the grave of the “Griffin Warrior,” one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in Greece in recent years, offering new insight into early Greek civilization.

In 2021, the President of Greece recognized their contributions by naming Davis and Stocker Commanders of the Order of the Phoenix.

In addition to his fieldwork, Davis served as director of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens from 2007 to 2012, where he helped guide the institution during a period of global economic uncertainty and strengthened its academic programs and resources.

The Athens Prize reflects a career defined not only by discovery, but by a lasting influence on the study of ancient Greece and the scholars who continue to shape the field.