Jonathan Leite received his BA with Honors in Archaeology and the Ancient World from Brown University in 2024. His senior thesis, titled "Identity and Religion on the Numidian Frontier: The Position of the Auxilia" grappled with questions of continuities in cultural practice amongst Roman auxiliary units on the Numidian frontier. This project utilized primarily epigraphic and iconographic analyses and engaged deeply with historiographical study to examine gaps and biases within the site reports from French colonial-era excavations. In the fall of 2024, Jonathan enrolled in an MSc program on Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh. This program provided training in statistical approaches and bioarchaeological techniques. His master's thesis examined spatiality in two Roman military contexts—Vindolanda and Dura Europos—and how lived experiences of these theoretically 'rigid' military spaces could vary widely based on a confluence of identities and backgrounds. In the field, Jonathan has worked at the Nuragic site of S'Urachi on Sardinia and in central Italy excavating a Roman villa with the Upper Sabina Tiberina Project.
At ISAW, Jonathan intends to further explore how identity develops in imperial frontier zones across the ancient world. He is especially interested in understanding how imperial policy and local agencies interact within highly militarized spaces. He also aims to integrate the agency of animals into his research. Methodologically, he hopes to expand his understanding of computational techniques to enable the development of more sophisticated spatial models. At the same time, he is intensely interested in engaging in public outreach to improve the reputation of academic archaeology amongst the general public.