State what ancient document you are going to investigate, in what language; or what ancient artefact of what cultural provenance you are going to investigate.

Ancient documents may include text (transmitted to the modern world via inscriptions, papyri, ostraca, or the medieval manuscript tradition), coins, pottery, paintings, other images or ancient artefacts. Discuss a suitable document/artefact with your supervisor and agree with him/her about what it is to be before you submit this research proposal.

Give reasons for your choice:  What can be expected to be learnt from your study?  Why is this of interest in a broader context?  What is already known about the document/artefact you are going to study?

Say what needs to form part of your study:  Is a new translation of your document into English needed?  Do links between your document/artefact and other documents/artefacts need to be studied, or studied further than they previously have been? Are new photographs or other museum processes needed in order to investigate your aretefact?

If you are studying an ancient document but do not have sufficient skills to read the document in the ancient language, say what critical procedures you will follow to be certain that you are using the best available English translation, and what helps you are going to use to make sure that you understand the document to the best standard possible.

If you are studying an ancient artefact or non-textual document (for example, an image or images without associated text), explain what tools and resources you intend to bring to bear to understand the image(s) and comment on them accurately and to a high standard.

Give a bibliography listing the two to five most important bibliographical items used in creating the research proposal (this does not count towards the word limit).

Submit this 500-word proposal to your supervisor via the iLearn unit, using Turnitin, on or before the due date.

If yours is a textual document, print the text which you will use (this does not count towards the word limit). If your text comes from a modern edition, explain why this edition and not another is the best to use for the text which you are studying. Are there any weaknesses in the text (for example lacunae, or places where the text is uncertain)?

If yours is an artefact or a non-textual document, print and label the pictures of the item(s) involved which you are going to rely on in your study. If you have seen or handled the item(s) yourself, say when and where, and explain whether autopsy has added to your understanding of the item(s).

If yours is a textual document, print an English translation (this does not count towards the word limit). If you have made the translation yourself, well and good--but postpone to the project itself your discussion of why you translated as you did and not otherwise.  If you are using a published translation, say where it comes from and why you believe it to be the best translation available to you:  postpone to the project itself any discussion of weaknesses in the published translation and ways it could be improved.

Give a bibliography of published sources used or cited in this piece of work, and of museum locations of artefacts (this does not count towards the word limit).

Submit this text and translation assignment to your supervisor via the iLearn unit, using Turnitin, on or before the due date.

Include the text and translation (or images of the artefacts which form the 'document') in this full (5,000-word) version of the project:  but they do not count towards the word count.

In an introduction, explain the aims and historical significance of your documentary project.

Write a study of the points of historical interest which arise from your document.  Include any text-critical commentary or discussion of meaning of text which may be needed.

In the course of the study, give a systematic discussion of points of interest contributed by the chosen documents/artefacts to the general historical significance.

End with a conclusion explaining what your document study has proved about the ancient world.

Give references throughout to relevant ancient and modern sources (these will count towards the word count).

Give a full bibliography (this will not count towards the word-count).

Submit this essay to your supervisor via the iLearn unit, using Turnitin, on or before the due date.