An Archaeology of Inequality: Ancient Rome in Ten Objects

Introduction to the study of social structure in Ancient Rome with an emphasis on 'invisible Romans': groups that receive less attention in textual sources (women, slaves, children, outcasts, differently abled people, foreigners). Ten objects are used as prompts for storytelling and for an archaeological investigation of the material traces of non-elite Romans. We discuss the concept of 'object biography' developed by anthropologist Igor Kopytoff and visit the Nasher Museum of Art for hands-on activities with Roman artifacts.