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Doctorate School of Humanities: Technological and Digital Approaches to the Study of Ancient Written Artefacts

Introduction

The University of Alcalá is organizing a course on technological and digital approaches to the study of ancient written artefacts. This course will provide an overview of the tools and methods that can be employed in this field.

Course Details

• Date: 2 March 2026 (15:00) - 6 March 2026 (13:30)
• Location: Alcalá, Spain
• Host University: University of Alcalá (UAH)
• Type of Event/Mode: Physical course
• Target Groups: PhD students
• Duration: Up to 1 week
• Recognition: Transcript of records - 2 ECTS
• Language: English
• Recruitment of Participants: Qualitative assessment
• Number of Open Spots: 27
• Eligible for International Certificate: Yes

Evaluation Criteria

• 40% Academic/Professional Merit
• 30% Motivation
• 30% Language

Prerequisites

• Education in humanities, digital humanities, or digital technologies

Application Deadline

• 26 December 2025

Note

Those who are offered a place will be awarded a grant of 2,179 Euros

Course Content

The course will showcase digital strategies applied to ancient studies, including:

• Databases
• Image management using AI
• OCR
• Digital restoration
• NLP

Focus Areas

The course will focus on three fields:

1. Digital Aspects of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts: OCR, text mining, semantics
2. Museum Artefacts' Study and Practice: Conservation, analysis, data
3. Material Aspects of Texts from Ancient Cultures: Analyses of media (stone, parchment, etc.) and techniques (carving, inking)

Methodology

The course employs a mixed-methods approach, combining theoretical analysis, digital technology approaches, and case-based learning. Key methodologies include:

• Lectures and readings
• Digital modeling and analysis
• Case studies
• Simulations and group exercises
• Discussion and peer review

Key Methodologies

• Lectures and Readings: Foundation in digital and material philology, data management, computer vision, natural language processing, and applied artificial intelligence
• Digital Modeling and Analysis: Use of digital tools to manage, analyze, and visualize written documents of ancient times
• Case Studies: Real-world examples with ancient documents of different nature
• Simulations and Group Exercises: Hands-on activities on digital images of real documents and databases of texts from antiquity
• Discussion and Peer Review: Regular discussions and peer feedback sessions to enhance critical thinking and allow students to reflect on diverse viewpoints and approaches within material and digital philology contexts