Vause presents research at the International Medieval Congress

On July 2, 2019, Rachael Vause presented "A Sumptuous Defense: Amuletic Jewelry from Islamic Caesarea," at the International Medieval Congress (IMC). Hosted by the University of Leeds, the IMC is the largest academic gathering of medieval scholars in Europe, featuring over 2,000 paper presentations and approximately 3,000 attendees from around the world. Following her conference presentation, Vause was invited to contribute an essay for publication in an edited volume. The multi-authored work will be published by Brill in winter 2020.

For summer 2019, Vause received the Summer Doctoral Grant, CAS Summer Travel Grant and Professional Development Grant to conduct research and present her dissertation. Vause's dissertation examines the bodily relationship between power objects and the wearer. Using a digital microscope, she examined four cross pendants at the British Museum and two pendants at the Ashmolean Museum. Wear marks produced specifically by touching or rubbing cross pendants could provide direct evidence of the wearer's active engagement with the ornament.