Making a StINK with STEM in the Classics Classroom: Exploring Ancient Roman Writing through Experimental Archaeology

Abstract

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to take notes for Pliny the Elder? Surely he had a secretary to assist him with his writing, or did he take his own notes? He left a huge body of material in his Historia Naturalis. What must his home office have looked like with all the detritus of constant writing and research scattered about? I have often wondered these things and many others about the process of ancient writing. As a Latin teacher, I decided to try out ancient writing with my students as a STEM project.