Started in 2023, Experiencing Antiquity is a new project dedicated to maintaining and preserving the artefact and epigraphic squeeze collection of the Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies (AMNE) Department at the University of British Columbia.

Building on the foundations laid by the previous From Stone to Screen digitization project, Experiencing Antiquity seeks to improve digital and in-person accessibility to the collection through public outreach. To find more information about our pilot public outreach program, see the "Outreach Program" page. We have also published a number of object-based lesson plans available for download on the "Exhibits" page.

The project has been successful in applying for grant funding so far. In Summer 2023, Experiencing Antiquity was awarded the Ancient Worlds, Modern Communities grant from the Society for Classical Studies. Using that grant money, the team rehoused the artefact collection and created this new online platform with lesson plans and educational materials to use in their own classrooms.

Some areas of this site are currently under construction. Please bear with us as we make the necessary changes. 

There are a number of collections which are associated with Experiencing Antiquity but are not housed by the project or AMNE. 

1. The Malcolm McGregor Squeeze Collection, the project’s inaugural collection: a corpus of Greek epigraphic squeezes (filter paper impressions of ancient Greek stone inscriptions) that was given to the department in 1975 by professor emeritus Dr. Malcolm McGregor upon his retirement. This collection represents the culmination of McGregor’s life work and includes copies of the Athenian Tribute Lists. The existence of McGregor’s collection in the AMNE department gave the students the impetus to launch the project, and is the inspiration for the title of the previous digitization project, From Stone to Screen. The digital materials for the McGregor Squeeze Collection are housed by the University of British Columbia's Library. The physical squeezes are held by Experiencing Antiquity and the AMNE Department. Please contact us for more information about accessing the squeezes.

2. The Harvey F. Blackmore Collection comprises 196 artefacts from Bahrain, and was donated to the UBC’s Laboratory of Archaeology in 2014. Please contact the Laboratory of Archaeology for more information about accessing the Blackmore Collection.

3. The Ancient Artefacts Collection consists of 5 cuneiform tablets from ancient Mesopotamia, and two Roman Egyptian papyri, the latter of which were probably purchased in the 1930’s by O.J. Todd. It is housed by the University of British Columbia's Rare Books and Special Collections.