Tours and Workshops

The RD Milns Antiquities Museum offers a wide variety of tours and workshops, covering a range of topics from across the ancient world. These programs allow students to engage with curriculum content and apply historical skills in an engaging environment.

Tours begin by allowing students to explore the Museum gallery, a space which holds the foremost collection of Mediterranean antiquities on public display in Queensland. Students will then be taken on a guided tour of the gallery, with content delivered by one of our knowledgeable guides. Groups will examine and discuss a selection of hand-picked artefacts, relevant to your chosen theme. Students are encouraged to ask questions and interrogate archaeological evidence.

Workshops are held in our dedicated Education Room and involve hands-on activities. Several of our workshops give students the opportunity to handle real ancient artefacts and to apply historical skills in a practical setting. Other activities include mummy wrapping, deciphering hieroglyphics, and more. All workshops are facilitated by a university-qualified guide who assists students in developing analytical skills and directs group discussions.

For an in-depth overview of how our programs relate to the curriculum, see our Curriculum Guide.

Tours

Greek and Roman Daily Life
This tour examines the social structures, beliefs, and practices of Greek and Roman society. Students will learn how archaeological evidence helps us to examine key features of daily life. These topics include the role of women, entertainment, theatre, bathing, sports, slavery, and food.

Death and Burial in the Ancient World
This tour explores the beliefs and funerary practices of the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians. Students will learn about the various forms of burial in the ancient world, including mummification, inhumation, and cremation. They will also discuss ancient beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife.

Greek Warfare
This tour explores the importance of warfare in Greek society. Students will first learn about the equipment and role of a Greek hoplite in the 5th century BC. They are given the chance to examine a mannequin, equipped with replica weapons and armour. The tour will continue with a discussion of warfare in daily life, myth, and sports.

The Roman Army
This tour explores the effectiveness of the Roman army and their role within Roman society. Students are given an overview of the armour and weapons used by a Roman soldier in the 1st century AD. They are given the chance to examine replica equipment, worn by our gallery’s mannequin. Students will then learn how the Roman army influenced religion, entertainment, and social structure.

Classical Archaeology: Techniques and Methodologies
In this tour, we explore some of the techniques, methods, and sources used by archaeologists to investigate the classical world. Students will learn about changing approaches to cultural heritage and preservation, including the shift from private to public collections. Students will also be able to participate in pottery sequencing, one of the most common dating techniques used by archaeologists.

The World of Ancient Egypt
This tour explores the beliefs and customs of ancient Egypt through its material remains. Students examine objects related to Egyptian language, funerary and religious practices, art, and more. This tour also covers Egypt’s involvement in trade and its later interactions with Greece and Rome.

Workshops

Life in the Roman Villa
This workshop focuses on the various beliefs, values, and practices of the ancient Romans in a domestic context. Students will analyse an assemblage of artefacts from a Roman villa and consider what evidence they provide of everyday life.

Sanctuaries and the Sacred
In this workshop, students examine the remains of an ancient Greek sanctuary. They will analyse an assemblage of objects from the site and determine what types of ritual activities took place there, as well as draw conclusions as to which deity the sanctuary was dedicated to.

Trade in the Ancient Mediterranean
This workshop focuses on the importance of trade in connecting Greece with the wider Mediterranean. Students are presented with a scenario in which they examine the archaeological finds from a harbour site and use these to consider the impact of trade on the development of Greek culture.

Coinage of the Roman Emperors
In this workshop, we examine how Roman Emperors used coinage to develop their public image and communicate important political messages to the Roman people. Students will learn how to analyse and interpret coins using examples from the 1st century AD and explore the meaning behind their designs.

Valley of the Kings
This workshop examines the history of exploration and archaeology in the Valley of the Kings. Students will investigate a newly discovered tomb in the royal necropolis and use artefacts to piece together a history of the site.

The Mummification Process
This workshop examines the mummification process, focusing on the purpose of mummification with respect to the ancient Egyptian belief in the afterlife. Students will be taken through the stages of the wrapping and interment of the body using wooden mannequins.

Papyri & Hieroglyphics: Writing in Ancient Egypt
In this workshop, we consider the origin and manufacture of papyrus and examine the different forms of writing used in ancient Egypt. Students will learn how to transliterate simple hieroglyphics and write their names using a basic hieroglyphic alphabet.

Ancient Egypt Experience

Our Ancient Egypt Experience is a fantastic way to spend a full day investigating the significant beliefs and practices of the Ancient Egyptians. This is a set program of four 1-hour sessions and is aimed at students from Years 7-10.

Building the Pyramids
This workshop investigates how the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids. Using plastic construction bricks, students will be taken through the stages of construction, while exploring specific features of pyramid design.

Virtual Programs

The RD Milns Antiquities Museum can offer remote options for a selection of our education programs, delivered via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, upon request. Tours and workshops are adapted for a virtual environment to ensure a high-quality experience. Schools may be provided resources or worksheets to facilitate long-distance learning and discussion.

Please note, The Mummification Process and Building the Pyramids workshops are not available for Virtual Programs.

If you wish to request a virtual program or have any questions regarding the content of our virtual programs, please contact us via antiquitiesbookings@uq.edu.au, or call the Museum Office on 33653010.

Prices

Visit Type	Price (incl. GST)
1 hour	$28 per student with a minimum spend of $530
2 hour	$35 per student with a minimum spend of $600
3 hour	$43 per student with a minimum spend of $705
4 hour	$50 per student with a minimum spend of $775

These prices are current for 2025 bookings.

Bookings

To make a booking for an on-site visit, submit a booking form by clicking the button below.

Group Booking Form

If you have any questions regarding the content of our education programs or would like assistance with your booking, feel free to contact us via antiquitiesb ookings@uq.edu.au, or call the Museum Office on (07) 3365 3010.