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 on May 7 at Gotham Hall.
The award is given to scholars whose work has significantly advanced knowledge of ancient Greece, highlighting Davis’ long-standing influence in Aegean archaeology.
Davis, who is the Carl W. Blegen Professor of Greek Archaeology in the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Classics, has spent more than five decades leading fieldwork and mentoring students. His research has shaped how scholars understand Greek history from prehistoric times onward.
“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. Loomis said this honor recognizes Davis’s work as a field archaeologist, prolific scholar and mentor, as well as his service to the institution.
Throughout his career, Davis co-directed major archaeological projects across Greece including surveys on Kea and Melos that helped establish the Cyclades as a key area in Aegean history. He also co-directed projects in Nemea Valley and Pylos that placed important Bronze Age sites into historical context.
More recently, with his wife and collaborator Sharon R. Stocker, Davis led excavations near Pylos where they uncovered the grave known as the “Griffin Warrior.” This find has been described as one of Greece’s most significant recent archaeological discoveries for its insights into early Greek civilization.
In recognition of their contributions to archaeology, both were named Commanders of the Order of the Phoenix by Greece’s president in 2021. From 2007 to 2012, Davis served as director for the American School of Classical Studies at Athens during a period marked by global economic uncertainty.
The Athens Prize reflects not only a career defined by discovery but also by lasting influence on both scholarship about ancient Greece and future generations studying this field.