Andrew T. Wilburn

Andrew T. Wilburn is a Professor of Classics and Archaeological Studies at Oberlin College, affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. He has been teaching there since 2005 and specializes in the archaeology of ancient magic, Graeco-Roman Egypt, and Mediterranean material culture. His research emphasizes the intersection of magic with daily life, architecture, and domestic practices.

Education: BS from Randolph-Macon College (1996), MB from University of Maryland (1998), MA/PhD from University of Michigan Ann Arbor (2004/2005). He has excavated at sites like the Athenian Agora, Corinth, and Karanis in Egypt, and was a Fulbright Fellow in Cyprus.

Research Interests: Wilburn explores magic in objects of daily life, ritual practices in domestic and public spaces, and the material culture of Graeco-Roman Egypt. His work bridges archaeology with textual analysis, focusing on how individuals engaged with magic during crises. Recent projects include the Karanis Housing Project (GIS mapping of the site) and collaborative studies on magical artifacts in Cyprus, Spain, and Egypt.

His publications and articles highlight themes like curse tablets, ritual agency in architecture, and materiality in magical practices. He actively involves students in research, mentoring undergraduates on projects such as the Karanis GIS initiative and papyrological studies.

Awards: Recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship to Cyprus during his doctoral studies. Collaborator on the Books of Karanis Project, funded by Canada’s Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Teaching & Community: Teaches courses on ancient history, Greek/Latin languages, and magic in the ancient world. Engages with local schools, e.g., collaborating with Oberlin Elementary School’s archaeology curriculum. Advises students on senior projects and interdisciplinary studies.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Karanis Housing Project, a digital archaeology initiative mapping the ancient site’s structures and artifacts, involving current students and alumni in collaborative research.