Innovation in Ancient Worlds

Inclusive methods and responsible tech for Ancient Studies

CIAW is a non-profit center supporting teaching and research on the Ancient World—linking philology, epigraphy, archaeology, and ancient history with practical, ethical digital methods.

Foundation

CIAW grew from collaborative teaching and research across universities and vocational IT programs.

Origins: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), Universidad Europea de Madrid (UEM), Kyoto Prefectural University (KPU), among others.

Mission

What we do

  • Provide training on inclusive pedagogy for Ancient Studies.
  • Develop open resources for languages, texts, material culture, and data.
  • Offer guidance on responsible AI and reproducible workflows.
  • Connect educators, researchers, technologists, and heritage professionals.
  • Reinvest all support into research, teaching, and community activity.

How we work

We favor practices that are transparent, testable, and adaptable: clear learning goals, small reproducible steps, and tools that reduce friction in teaching and analysis.

Activities

Hands-on formats tailored to the Ancient World.

Workshops & Seminars

Text editing, epigraphic transcription, palaeography, archaeological data basics, and ancient languages—with evidence-based teaching.

Inclusive Resources

Scaffolded lesson plans, task checklists, alt-texted figures, captioned clips, and templates for accessible assignments.

Networking & Mentoring

Peer groups for early-career scholars and teachers; support to publish methods and teaching artefacts.

Experimental Projects

Responsible use-cases of AI, VR, and game-based tasks for text analysis, reconstruction, and interpretation.

Ethics & Methods

Guidance on transparency, data provenance, licensing, and limits of digital inference.

Open Publishing

Open access materials and reproducible examples that others can adapt to their courses or labs.

Current Projects

Initiatives we are actively running or coordinating.

Teaching Innovation at UAB (2025–2026)

Piloting inclusive, AI-assisted teaching strategies in Ancient Studies at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), with special focus on marginalized groups and neurodivergent learners.

  • Scope: Classics and Ancient History courses (BA/MA).
  • Focus: visibility of women and other overlooked voices in the Ancient World; scaffolding and multimodal tools for neurodivergent students (ADHD, autism, dyslexia, high sensitivity).
  • Outputs: open templates (rubrics, timelines, glossaries), inclusive teaching artefacts, and case studies on AI-supported accessibility.
  • Method: small-scale pilots → evidence gathering → iteration, always documenting bias, ethical limits, and student feedback.

Leads: CIAW × Dept. de Ciències de l’Antiguitat i de l’Edat Mitjana (UAB).

Archeion (archeion.es)

Public-facing dissemination project combining social media, podcasts, and short-form video to bring Ancient Studies and AI debates to a broad audience.

  • Scope: outreach across Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and podcast platforms.
  • Focus: accessible explanations of AI in education, specialized topics in Ancient History, and inclusive storytelling for diverse publics.
  • Outputs: visual explainers, narrative podcasts, AI-assisted subtitles and captions, and open micro-content packs for teachers.
  • Method: blending rigorous research with engaging formats, always prioritizing clarity, accessibility, and ethical use of AI in outreach.

Leads: CIAW × Archeion collective.

Values

Principles that shape how we teach, design, and share knowledge about the Ancient World.

Openness

Open by default. Materials and processes are shared whenever licensing allows.

Open access Shared data Reproducibility

Collaboration

Across fields. Classicists, archaeologists, historians, and technologists work together.

Co-authorship Shared tools Mentoring

Equity

Access first. We design for learners historically excluded from Ancient Studies.

Accessible formats Inclusive rubrics Diverse boards

Critical Reflection

Context before code. We document methods, limits, and biases.

Method notes Ethics checklist Bias audits

Neurodiversity

Inclusive design for teaching and researching the Ancient World.

Neurodivergence—including ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Tourette, high sensitivity, giftedness, and common co-occurrences—invites better learning design. Many learners face sensory overload, executive-function challenges, or cognitive fatigue in settings built for neurotypical norms. CIAW turns these realities into concrete choices across teaching, events, and digital materials.

Why it matters in Ancient Studies

Dense primary texts, complex grammars, and lecture-heavy delivery can exclude. Neurodivergent strengths—pattern recognition, creative problem-solving, hyperfocus, lateral thinking—improve textual analysis, inscription reading, data modeling, and argument building for everyone.

How CIAW implements this

  • Structured & creative paths: Step-by-step itineraries for clarity; exploratory tasks for divergent thinking (e.g., alternate commentary formats, map-based prompts).
  • Scaffolded materials: Goals first, chunked tasks, time estimates, and checklists for editions, translations, and cataloguing.
  • Sensory-aware delivery: Readable contrasts, captioned media, calm pacing; quiet rooms when possible.
  • Assessment options: Beyond essays: concept maps, annotated corpora, short video briefs, or reproducible notebooks.

The role of AI at CIAW

  • Personalized pathways: Adaptive prompts and templates (structured vs. exploratory).
  • Multimodal access: Visual reconstructions, audio summaries, interactive timelines, layered glossaries to reduce cognitive load.
  • Supportive mediation: AI-assisted summaries, vocabulary helpers, and comparative examples that shift effort from decoding to meaning.
  • Interface comfort: Dark/light modes, adjustable spacing and size, reduced motion, offline packs.

Our commitments

  • Accessible writing & visuals: Clear headings, consistent hierarchy, alt text, captions, legible contrast ratios.
  • Neurodiversity-aware feedback: Actionable, specific, time-bounded comments in workshops and mentoring.
  • Open artefacts: Teaching prompts, rubrics, and student-facing guides shared when licensing allows.
  • Ethical AI: Transparent workflows with notes on limits, bias, and data provenance.

See CIAW resources and templates in our contact section.

Get involved

We partner with educators, departments, and cultural institutions to co-design inclusive activities and materials. To adapt a course, redesign assessments, or run a neurodiversity-aware workshop, get in touch.

Non-Profit Character

Independence & sustainability: CIAW is non-commercial. Support comes from contributions and grants and is reinvested in teaching, research, and community work.

Get involved

Collaborate on courses, workshops, or resources for the Ancient World.

Collaborations

Email: info@ai-antiquity.org

Journal: AI & Antiquity (open access)

Support

We welcome in-kind contributions, micro-grants, and shared expertise. All support returns to non-profit activity.