ARCHAEOLOGY OF ROMAN EMPIRE

The teaching falls within the core educational activities the degree course in Conservation of Cultural Heritage and Performing Arts Management - Archaeology; it allows students to acquire the knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and methodological foundations necessary for the study of the archaeology of the Roman Empire and offers a reflection on the state of the art, methods and aims of the discipline. The aim of the course is to provide basic knowledge in the specific subject and to illustrate, from a theoretical and practical point of view, the modes and methods of archaeological research. Particular attention will be given to relationship between archaeological data (including those taken from aerial photos, field survey, stratigraphic excavation, analysis of finds etc.), written souces and iconography. Emphasis will also added to comparison between present landscape /reality and ancient landscape, highlighting how the signs the ancient are the result of a complex set of factors (including natural ones) and human choices. The ability to analyze and re-elaborate information, to manage and manipulate data, and to develop interdisciplinary research paths, will be stimulated.

1. Knowledge and understanding
● Knowleadge of the main sources of information for the study of the Roman provinces (excavation data, field survey, aerial photography, study of the findings of the material culture, study of ecofacts, written sources, iconographic testimonies etc ...).
● To know theories and methods for the study of archaeological data relevant to the course.
● To know the basic archaeological terminology in reference to the cultural sphere of the course.
● To know the fundamentals of the chronological and topographical framing of the Roman provinces.
● To know the basicsof formation and development of the province of Britainnia.
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
● To know how to correctly use the archaeological reference terinology for the course
● To know how to make appropriate chronological and topographical references.
● To know how to evaluate the information potential of archaeological data and establish the most appropriate methods of analysis and elaboration in relation to specific esearch objectives.
● To be able to re-elaborate and connect appropriately the information and knowledge acquired during the course, in order to develop and illustrate simple research paths.

3. Ability to judge
● To konw how to formulate and argue on the issues pertaining to the course, also developing a critical and informed approach to evaluating alternative hypotheses.

4. Communication skills
● To know how to communicate one's own reflections starting from a concrete case study, using an appropriate terminology, also knowing how to interact in debates and moments of group discussion in the classroom.

5. Learning skills
● Be able to take notes and share them in a collaborative way also on the online platform.
● To know how to critically consult the reference texts and the bibliography contained in them.

To have achieved the training goals the course of METHODOLOGY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH (B.A. degree) even without necessarily having passed the examination of this course. It is also necessary to understand the written English language in order to understand the texts that the teacher will use in class.

The course, using as a concrete example of study the case of the province of BRITANNIA, aims to provide an introduction to the dynamics of integration and cultural interaction at the borders of the Empire. The following topics will be addressed in class:
a) General part A. Historical and topographical framework of the Empire.
b) General part B. The cities of the Empire: the design and construction of urban centers in the provinces as a tool, and symbol, of cultural and political integration.
c) General part C (but with particular reference to the province of Britannia). The role of the Roman army in the dissemination of knowledge, technologies, models of plannig, lifestyle and as a driver of economic development in the provinces. In the general part of the course, in addition to essential basic notions, the theoretical and methodological foundations necessary for the study of the archeology of the Roman Empire will be provided. In addition, students will have occasions of discussion in classroom on proposed topics and methodological approaches.
d) The province of BRITANNIA: dynamics of integration and cultural interaction at the borders of the Empire, between archaeology and written sources. Lectures will pay particular attention to the relationship between archaeological data (including those taken from aerial photos, field survey, stratigraphic excavation, analysis of finds etc.), written testimonies and iconographic sources. Emphasis will be given to the comparison between current landscape / reality and ancient landscape, highlighting with specific cases, that the signs of the past are the result of a complex set of factors (including natural factors) and human choices.

There is NOT a program for non-attending students

C. VISMARA, Il funzionamento dell'Impero, Roma, 1989, pagg. 7-33 e pagg 73-84.
-D. COTTICA , La casa urbana in Britannia. Evoluzione, forma e significato, Trieste, 2002 (available at BAUM or on sale at the Ca 'Foscarina bookshop). Study chapters 1-4 included and read the entire volume.

Further readings will be recommended in class.

Due to Covid-19 emergency all examinations will take place as oral examinations.

The course is organized in:
a) lectures with the aid of power point presentations;
b) interactive lectures and classroom discussion on selected topics where the students will have to discuss, analyze and report results achieved in the classroom;
c) teaching material available on the moodle.unive.it e-learning platform. to supplement the notes taken in the classroom.

Italian

I) During the whole academic year the classical archeology laboratory connected to teaching (http://virgo.unive.it/archeolab/index.php?it/451/archeologia-classica-i ) offers various opportunities for practical activities processing and manipulation of data in the post-excavation phase, management and computerized processing of archaeological data, documentation and study of finds. Schedules are flexible.
2) Between January and September there will be seminars aimed at implementing the technical-practical skills, specifically aimed at building the profession of the archaeologist, enriching the preparation and competence. These are closed-ended seminars on the recognition, filing, design and computerized processing of ceramics, which include lectures accompanied by practical exercises. For pre-enrollment contact the teacher by e-mail by December 2019.
3) Between May and June 2019 an excavation is planned on the site of Aquileia Roman port - eastern shore with a limited number (http://www.unive.it/pag/32776/ ). To participate in the excavation it is necessary to have obtained the certificate of the safety course, to have a tetanus coverage and to have a medical certificate of good health. For pre-enrollment contact the teacher by e-mail by December 2019.
4) Dissertations: IN ADDITION TOPICS proposed by students, the course offers dissertations linked to the teacher's ongoing research projects and related to the archeology of production, the interaction between man and the environment in ancient times, excavations in progress at Aquileia and aspects of studies of artefacs. Also available dissertations in physical anthropology, using the data related to the study project of the necropolis of Piazza Corrubbio in Verona and the relative findings (human bones, ceramics, glass, metals).

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Cities, infrastructure and social capital" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development