ARCHAEOLOGY OF SYRO-MESOPOTAMIA

The course belongs to the interdisciplinary activities of both curricula ("Archaeology" and "Ancient Philology, literatures and history") of the Master's Degree Programme in "Ancient Civilisations: Literature, History and Archaeology" and to the core educational activities of the Medieval and Bizantine curriculum of the Master's Degree Programme in "History of Arts and Conservation of Artistic Heritage". It is one of the essential courses for students who want to specialise in the ancient civilisations of the Near East and of the Eastern Mediterranean.
It aims at providing students with advanced knowledge about the archaeology of pre-classical Syro-Mesopotamia and with methodological instruments enabling them to carry out a bibliographic research and produce and present, by making use of an appropriate terminology, an original synthesis about a specific subject related to the theme which is dealt with during the lessons. This year's course will be dedicated to the archaeology of the Upper Tigris region in the 3rd millennum BC

At the end of the course rhe student is expected to have not only a general knowledge of the pre-classical civilisations of Syo-Mesopotamia and of their material culture and artistic production, but also an in-depth knowledge of the subject dealt with during the course, based on reading specialised literature mainly in English language. He/she is also expected to be able to carry out, in a relatively short time, a bibliographic search about a specific topic, to prove able to choose with sufficient critical sense among the different available sources, to orally expose the results of his/her research to a specialised audience in an effective way and using an appropriate terminology, and to produce a short written essay following the rules required for scientific publications.

Near Eastern Archaeology and Art History I (advised: Near Eastern Archaeology and Art History II). Students who did not take a basic course in Near Eastern Archaelogy are invited to bridge the gap by reading a handbook about the subject. Considered that this is an advanced course, in order to follow it it is advisable to have a basic knowledge of the methods and general themes of archaeological research.

The course will deal with the archaeology of the Upper Tigris region in the 3rd millennium BC. A series of introductory lessons, by the lecturer, will define itschronology, and analyse their origin, the development, the main features, of the cultures and urban centres which characterise it. These will be followed by short oral presentations, by the students, of the most important archaeological sites of the region. Each student is expected to prepare a short piece of research about one aspect (e.g. a class of monuments or artefacts) of the course. This work will be orally presented and discussed during the last lessons, and tranformed into a short written essay before the exam.

Notes taken during the lessons and displayed PP presentations (downloadable from the Moodle platform)
Suggested readings:
1) For a general introduction to the pre-classical cultures of Syro-Mesopotamia
D. NADALI, A POLCARO (a cura di), Archeologia della Mesopotamia antica, Roma 2015.P
G.M.M.G. AKKERMANS, G. M. SCHWARTZ, The Archaeology of Syria. From Complex Hunter-Gatherers to Early Urban Societies (ca. 16.000-3000 BC), Cambridge 2003.
2) On the topic of the course:
- E. ROVA (ed.), Associated Regional Chronologies for the Ancient Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean. Tigridian Region (ARCANE 5)Turnhout (Brepols) 2019
Further literature will be communicated during the course.

For students who are unable to attend the lessons (this option is not recommemded):
1) For a general introduction to the pre-classical cultures either of Syria or of Mesopotamia
Either:
P.M.M.G. AKKERMANS, G. M. SCHWARTZ, The Archaeology of Syria. From Complex Hunter-Gatherers to Early Urban Societies (ca. 16.000-3000 BC), Cambridge 2003
or D. NADALI, A POLCARO (a cura di), Archeologia della Mesopotamia antica, Roma 2015.
or one volume among:
- P. MATTHIAE, La storia dell’Arte dell’Oriente Antico. Gli Stati territoriali. Dal 2100 al 1600 a.C., Milano 2000 (Electa)
- P. MATTHIAE, I primi imperi e i principati dell'Età del ferro 1600-700 a. C, Milano 1997 (Electa)
- P. MATTHIAE, La storia dell’Arte dell’Oriente Antico. I grandi Imperi. 1000-300 a. C. Milano 1996 (Electa)
2) specific literature for an essay, the topic of which will be assigned by the lecturer.

Each student is expected to prepare a short piece of research about one aspect of the course theme. This work will be discussed during the last lessons and prepared in written form before the exam. Oral exam, including general questions about the topics discussed during the course, and a discussion of the short written paper prepared by the student. Evaluation will be based on the student's active participation to the lessons (presentations, discussions etc.), on the written essay and on the discussion during the exam. It will consider both the degree of comprehension and knowledge of the subject, and the ability to present a topic, both in oral and in written form, in an effective and articulated way and by making use of an appropriate terminology
Students are offered the possibility to take the exam (presentation and written essay included) in English language

The course is organised in the form of a seminary involving the active participation of students. A few introductory frontal lessons by the instructor (with display of Power Point presentations) will be followed by oral presentations, by the students, of specific aspects. Each of these will be followed by a general discussion.
At request of the students, and if there will be enough interested foreign students, the course may be (mostly) thought in English

The lessons may be integrated by lectures on specific subjects by Italian or foreign experts and other activities (guided visits to museums and exhibitions, seminaries and exercises)

Italian

The course will take place during the second and third periods. At request of the students, and if there will be enough interested foreign students, the course may be (mostly) thought in English.
Since the course is organised in the form of a seminary, students are strongly advised to attend the lessons. Only in exceptional cases an alternative exam program (including a short written research paper) can be agreed upon.

Students interested in the civilisations of the Ancient Near East may also choose: Archaeology of Anatolia and the Caucasus, Archaeology of the Levant, Egyptology, Prehistory of the Near and Middle East, Cipriote archaeology, Aegean archaeology, Near Eastern History, Assyriology, Islamic archaeology

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Climate change and energy" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development