Ancient World Mapping Center

In September 2000, the American Philological Association’s Classical Atlas Project achieved its goal with the publication of the Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. This work represents an extraordinary advance in research tools, providing a comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of the entire spatial spread of Greek and Roman civilization and influence. Even well before it achieved publication, however, there developed widespread awareness that the cartography and historical geography of the ancient world pose a set of research and instructional challenges requiring constant attention and revision. New evidence, methods and technology will open new vistas and constantly create fresh research opportunites.

For this reason, the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill has established a permanent research facility devoted to promoting cartography and geographic information science as essential disciplines within the field of ancient studies: the Ancient World Mapping Center. The Center also enjoys the support of the APA, and holds the research materials assembled by its Classical Atlas Project.

A vital aspect of the Center’s mission is the revision and updating of the Barrington Atlas and its Map-by-Map Directory. Ongoing research and publication are sure to necessitate adjustment of maps and their supporting data. Equally, anyone with relevant expertise may wish to point out slips, or to suggest that note be taken of one or other alternative to interpretations presented in the atlas. In fact for this purpose the Center has already received valuable communications from experts worldwide. In order to facilitate the process for all concerned, the AWMC has created a form and a set of instructions. These are available in several formats below. The form can be filled out interactively online, or downloaded and printed for completion and mailing.

As Atlas editor and a member of the AWMC’s Advisory Board, I invite you to assist the Center in its ongoing efforts to improve our understanding of the spatial aspects of the ancient past. Naturally, while you will retain full rights over whatever research findings you share, you will be asked to grant the Center permission to disseminate mention of them in the context of its work, with due authorial credit clearly given.

Much of the work related to the refinement of the Barrington Atlas data set occurs under the aegis of the Pleiades Project, an initiative started by Tom Elliott originally at UNC and now operated cooperatively with ISAW at NYU.