The Cutting Edge: discussions in epigraphy

Squeeze and Rubbing Techniques: Making impressions of inscriptions on paper

28 February 2024, 15:00–16:30.
Institute of Classical Studies, Senate House, London.

Led by Gabriel Bodard, Abigail Graham, Benet Salway.

This seminar explores methods for creating accurate records of inscribed surfaces in paper, that are lightweight and portable yet relatively durable. In some cases these records, the result of direct sensory engagement with an inscription, can provide advantages and insights over photographs or autopsy in reading an inscribed text. The bulk of the session involves hands-on experience making squeezes (pressing wet filter paper onto the surface of the stone using a firm brush to create a 3D impression) and rubbings (an image created by rubbing a rendering material over thin paper placed on the surface). We will also discuss the relative advantages of these and other methods, including digital 3D imaging.

Free but booking essential.

Practical Epigraphy Workshop 2024: Corinium Museum, Cirencester, 18-20 June

With the help of expert guidance, participants will gain direct experience of the practical elements of how to record and study inscriptions in museums or in the field (the making of squeezes; imaging and measuring inscribed stones; and the production of transcriptions, translations and commentaries).  The workshop is aimed primarily at undergraduates who will be entering their third and / or final year of study next September and at graduates in any year, though we will consider applications from others who wish to develop hands-on skills in working with epigraphic material (those in full-time permanent employment may be asked to meet the full cost of participation: please ask for details).  The workshop is open to those with or without previous epigraphic training and participants may choose to work on texts in either Latin or Greek.  The course fee for student participants will be £120 for this three-day event including accommodation on Tuesday and Wednesday nights for those not based in Oxford and food for all participants from lunch on Tuesday to lunch on Thursday.

Closing date for applications and receipt of references: 12.00 on Friday 16 February 2024

Further information is available here:

https://www.csad.ox.ac.uk/article/the-call-for-applications-for-the-practical-epigraphy-workshop-2024-is-open.

and the Application Form here:

https://www.csad.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/csad/documents/media/practicalepigraphyworkshop_2024_ad_0.pdf

Please direct all enquiries to Peter Haarer (see Application Form for address)

(Posted on behalf of Georgios Mouratidis.)

The British School at Athens is delighted to invite applications for our Greek Epigraphy Postgraduate Course, that will take place 27 March – 5 April 2024 in Athens, Greece.

Application deadline is 8 December 2023.

The BSA Greek Epigraphy course provides training for historians, archaeologists and textual scholars in the discipline of reading and interpreting epigraphic evidence. The course will allow students to deepen their understanding of the value of epigraphic material to the study of Greek history, society and culture, and to develop practical epigraphic skills: students will be guided through the process of producing editions of inscriptions, gaining first-hand experience with the stones as well as instruction in editorial practice and bibliographic skills.

The course will be taught around the BSA’s own Museum collection, which contains a large range of inscribed objects (graffiti, stamps, instrumenta domestica, weights, and weapons) and will also utilise the most significant collections of stone inscriptions around Athens, in particular at the superb facilities of the Epigraphic Museum, where students will each be assigned a stone from which they will create their own epigraphic edition.

The course is directed by Peter Liddel (Manchester) and Polly Low (Durham), with additional lectures and tours offered by guest speakers. Some prior knowledge of Greek is essential, although students with only elementary skills are advised that reading inscriptions is a very good way to advance in the language!

Applicants should make sure that two references are sent to the assistant director at assistant.director@bsa.ac.uk by the application deadline (8 December 2023), with the subject ‘Epigraphy course reference’.

For more information about the course, visit https://www.bsa.ac.uk/courses/epigraphy/.

(Posted on behalf of Courtney Quaintance.)

We are delighted to announce the Sixth Postgraduate Course in Epigraphy at the British School at Rome, June 27th  – July 6th 2024

Based at the British School at Rome, this taught course offers a nine-day introduction to the scholarship, publication and display of epigraphic materials from a variety of different approaches. Intended for postgraduate scholars of ancient history, archaeology, museum studies and the classics, the course examines the numerous contexts in which epigraphy is presented: in situ, museums, private collections, archives and in published formats (e.g. reference works and online databases). How do these contexts and the processes of documenting inscriptions shape our lens of perception? Experiencing epigraphy, in these different formats, is the best way to understand and address both the wonders and the difficulties of these sources.

The course consists of daily lectures, visits and practical activities at many of Rome’s museums, institutions and sites (including a trip to Ostia), with onsite instruction from leading professors and curators in the field. Practical activities such as drawing, squeezes, rubbings, object handling, a carving tutorial and a session at the CIL VI. (La Sapienza) are designed to provide unique hands-on interactions with sources, contexts and scholars in the field. Participants will also have an opportunity to further their own research through an independent project (generally a specific area of his/her epigraphic research) which will be developed during the course and presented in a short paper at the end of the course. Residence at the BSR includes accommodation (breakfast and dinner with residents from the BSR community), access to their collections (with 24-hour access to the library), and a year’s membership to the BSR.

Testimonials, reports and itineraries from previous courses, as well as an information pack for the 2024 course with details of how to apply, can be found on the BSR website: https://bsr.ac.uk/research-practice-courses/.

Queries about the course can also be sent to: Abigail.graham@sas.ac.uk.