Tyler Lecours

Education

Brandeis University (2024)

M.A. Ancient Greek and Roman Studies 

Areas of Interest

Archaeology of Intercultural Interactions, Cultural Identity, Systems of Exchange, Urban Development, and Frontier Networks in Ancient Thrace, the North Aegean, and the broader Black Sea region.

Profile

Tyler Lecours is a PhD student in Archaeology at UCLA’s Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. Tyler earned his B.A. with an Advanced Major in Anthropology from St. Francis Xavier University in 2017 and his M.A. in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies with High Honors from Brandeis University in 2024. 

During his master’s program, Tyler received a Fulbright Research Award in Archaeology to conduct fieldwork at the Greek emporion of Pistiros in collaboration with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Balkan Heritage Foundation, and the National Archaeological Institute with Museum. This experience played a formative role in shaping his academic interests in both Thrace and the Black Sea region, including his current research on the development of frontier networks during the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods. As part of his broader archaeological research, Tyler has contributed to and remains actively involved in several archaeological excavations investigating intercultural interactions and urban development in Italy, Israel, and Bulgaria.

Prior to joining the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, Tyler served as a Forestry Archaeologist, Fireline Resource Advisor, and a Wildland Firefighter at Yosemite National Park. In this capacity, Tyler worked to preserve and protect the park’s cultural and ancestral landscapes amid the growing challenges posed by environmental change and the spread of wildland fires. In addition to his work with the National Park Service, Tyler has completed four years of service with AmeriCorps VISTA, AmeriCorps NCCC, Peace Corps Morocco, and the Student Conservation Association. Throughout these programs, Tyler organized and led community-based initiatives dedicated to public education, environmental stewardship, and historic preservation. Building on experiences, Tyler aims to bridge his academic research with community service to encourage greater public engagement in the stewardship of our shared cultural heritage.

Field Experience

2026    Pistiros Research Excavations                                                Vetren, Bulgaria

2026    Long Fire: REAF / Fire Arch                                                    Yosemite National Park

2026    Big Oak Flat Road: Fuel Break                                                Yosemite National Park

2026    Tamarack Flat Survey                                                              Yosemite National Park

2025    Yosemite Valley Museum Excavation                                      Yosemite National Park

2025    Garnet Fire: REAF / Fire Arch                                                 Sierra National Forest

2025    El Capitan CERCLA Project                                                    Yosemite National Park

2024    Pistiros Research Excavation                                                  Vetren, Bulgaria

2024    Pistiros Field School                                                                Vetren, Bulgaria

2024    Pantelleria Project                                                                    Pantelleria, Italy

2023    Via Militaris Geophysical Survey                                              Vetren, Bulgaria

2023    Sandanski Regional Survey Project                                         Sandanski, Bulgaria

2023    Laskarevo Archaeological Excavation                                      Laskarevo, Bulgaria

2023    Pistiros Archaeological Excavation                                           Vetren, Bulgaria

2023    Pistiros Field School                                                                 Vetren, Bulgaria

2023    Birsama Exploration Project                                                     Be’er Shema, Israel

2022    High Chisos Archaeological Fire Assessment                          Big Bend National Park

2020    Apache Canyon Field Survey                                                   Big Bend National Park

2020    Rio Grande Corridor Preliminary Survey                                  Big Bend National Park

2020    Indian Head Rock Damage Assessment                                  Big Bend National Park

2016    Apollonia Pontica Field School                                                 Sozopol, Bulgaria         

Selected Publications

Publications

Lecours, Tyler. 2026. Review of Ancient Thrace and the Classical World: Treasures from Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece, edited by Jeffrey Spier, Timothy Potts, Sara E. Cole, and Margarit Damyanov. Ancient West & East (Fall 2026).

Original Works

Lecours, Tyler. Master's Thesis: Beyond Conventional Boundaries: Assessing the Cultural Identity of Adjiyska Vodenitsa. Submitted to Brandeis University in July 2024.

Lecours, Tyler. Advanced Major Thesis: Alexandria: The Cosmopolitan Gateway. Submitted to St. Francis Xavier University in April 2017. 

Tyler Lecours is a PhD student in Archaeology at UCLA’s Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. Tyler earned his B.A. with an Advanced Major in Anthropology from St. Francis Xavier University in 2017 and his M.A. in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies with High Honors from Brandeis University in 2024. 

During his master’s program, Tyler received a Fulbright Research Award in Archaeology to conduct fieldwork at the Greek emporion of Pistiros in collaboration with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Balkan Heritage Foundation, and the National Archaeological Institute with Museum. This experience played a formative role in shaping his academic interests in both Thrace and the Black Sea region, including his current research on the development of frontier networks during the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods. As part of his broader archaeological research, Tyler has contributed to and remains actively involved in several archaeological excavations investigating intercultural interactions and urban development in Italy, Israel, and Bulgaria.

Prior to joining the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, Tyler served as a Forestry Archaeologist, Fireline Resource Advisor, and a Wildland Firefighter at Yosemite National Park. In this capacity, Tyler worked to preserve and protect the park’s cultural and ancestral landscapes amid the growing challenges posed by environmental change and the spread of wildland fires. In addition to his work with the National Park Service, Tyler has completed four years of service with AmeriCorps VISTA, AmeriCorps NCCC, Peace Corps Morocco, and the Student Conservation Association. Throughout these programs, Tyler organized and led community-based initiatives dedicated to public education, environmental stewardship, and historic preservation. Building on experiences, Tyler aims to bridge his academic research with community service to encourage greater public engagement in the stewardship of our shared cultural heritage.

Awards

International Research Awards

2024    Fulbright Certificate of Achievement

2024    Fulbright Bulgaria: Archaeological Research Extension Award

2023    Fulbright Bulgaria: Archaeological Research Award

2023    Eizenstat Travel Grant: Birsama Archaeological Exploration Project

2016    Balkan Heritage Foundation: Research Scholarship

National Service Awards

2024    Harris Wofford Joint Service Award: Inaugural Recipient

2022    Student Conservation Association: Service Completion Award

2021    AmeriCorps VISTA Campus Compact: Service Completion Award

2020    Peace Corps Morocco: Service Completion Award

2019    AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps: Service Completion Award

2018    AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate: Service Completion Award

Advisors

Dr. Aaron Burke

Dr. Lara Fabian