Classical archaeology

Gustavianum manages several collections related to the study of ancient cultures. The collections mainly include Greek and Roman pottery, bronze and terracotta figurines, Greek and Latin inscriptions, ancient coins and plaster copies of ancient sculpture. They have been used in research and teaching long before the subject of Classical Antiquity was established at Uppsala University in 1909 and was then called Classical Archaeology and Ancient History. Today, the collections are an important resource for students and researchers at Uppsala University, but also from other universities within and beyond Sweden.

Where do the collections come from?

Objects that are today in the Collection of Classical Antiquities represent several historical eras and cultures in the Mediterranean area. Most of the objects are archaeological finds from Swedish excavations in the region. Excavations at Asine in Greece (1926), Sinda in Cyprus (1947-1948), Labraunda in Turkey (1953), Acquarossa in Italy (1968) and Takht-e Soleyman in Iran (1959-1962), generated large quantities of finds and some of these are today in our collections. Gustavianum also has a number of items from the Swedish Cyprus Expedition (1927-1931). All material has come to Uppsala University after agreement with, and permission from, the respective host country.

Where are the collections?

Many of the objects from the collections will be displayed in the Gustavianum, when the university museum reopens after the ongoing renovation. Parts of the collections are also available to researchers and students at The historical collections at EBC, Center for Evolutionary Biology.