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E. Peacock

Research Interests:

Cultural Heritage | Art Market | Illicit Antiquities | Archaeology | Criminology | Cultural Economics

 

Emily Peacock examines the intersections between archaeology, criminology, art market studies, and cultural economics. Her research explores how heritage values shape decision-making in the art market, particularly in relation to the collection and trade of archaeological materials. Her background is as a Roman archaeologist, and her fieldwork, in particular her time on The Oplontis Project, a villa project adjacent to Pompeii and led by the University of Texas,  formed her interest in the way archaeological material is treated in contemporary culture.

 

Emily holds a first-class undergraduate degree in Classics from the Open University, has studied French at la Sorbonne in Paris, and gained a Master’s degree with distinction in Cultural Heritage Management from the University of York. Her academic work is grounded in a cross-sectoral understanding of cultural heritage, law, and market behaviour. Emily's expertise mean she has presented at the École du Louvre, The Rijksmuseum, and the Institute of Archaeology, amongst others. In 2023 she gained the York Award for her excellent contribution to the academic community. She has also recently contributed a case study on provenance information and the antiquities trade to the ANCHISE 2024 report for the European Commission. 

 

As a Research Assistant on the Transform project, Emily contributes to investigations into the movement of cultural heritage into the global art market. Her recent work includes co-authored publications examining the 'artification' of Tyrannosaurus Rex fossils, revealing how palaeontological specimens are transformed into high-value art market commodities. 

See: Preownedpast.com

 

 

Recent Publications: 

  • Peacock, E. (Accepted, pending edits, 2025) ‘Collecting the Past: Motivations and Meanings in the Low-End Antiquities Trade‘ Palgrave McMillan Series on Cultural Economics and the Creative Industry. A.S Radermecker (eds.). Palgrave.

 

  • Yates, D., & Peacock, E. (2023). T. rex is Fierce, T. rex is Charismatic, T. rex is Litigious: Disruptive Objects in Affective Desirescapes. International Journal of Cultural Property, 30(4), 396–418. doi:10.1017/S0940739124000055