Genesis
The present journal had its origin in part of a role play scenario for the research paper assignment in one of the instances of HI498, Research Seminar in Ancient Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University. The idea was for students to apply to participate in a mock conference by submitting an abstract and putting together a paper for presentation, which, if accepted (read: met all the requirements of the assignment) would be circulated to the editorial board (i.e., a class peer-review) and, providing the final result was of sufficient quality (meaning, an A-level grade), would be published in the ‘conference proceedings’.
In due course, in light of positive student response, the steering committee of the Ancient Studies programme was approached with the idea of producing a programme-wide journal open to students from all participating departments and courses.
Name
The journal is named for the Sumerian goddess of writing, Nisaba. To our knowledge, this is the earliest attested deity of writing, and, given that Sumerian cuneiform is the oldest known script, the attribution seems fitting.
Current Issue
The first official instance of the journal was to have been produced in Summer 2023, but due to unforeseen circumstances it was not possible to complete the project on time, and then, of course, the demands of the academic year made themselves felt. Consequently, the first official issue covers submissions from 2023 and 2024.
We hope you enjoy these papers, which are an excellent testament to the hard work of their respective authors and feel confident that they will inspire current and upcoming students to produce further excellent work in the future.
Note to instructors
Instructors in Ancient Studies are heartily encouraged to support the journal in courses featuring essays at whatever levels. Students are likewise urged to seek their instructors’ support! Please consult the relevant appendices in any given issue.