ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE LEVANT

Archaeology of the Levant is part of the archaeological curriculum of the MA degree in Sciences of Antiquity.
The course introduces to key issues and methods of the Archaeology of the Levant by focusing on an emblematic topic. In class, students acquire a basic command of relevant material sources, exercise critical interpretive skills and learn how to develop and write a short scientific essay.

1. Knowledge and understanding:
- you know in outlines the Geography of the Levant
- you know in outlines the History of the Levant between 1600 and 600 BC
- you know which sources and methods are used for studying the Archaeology of the Levant, with a specific focus on urban design and architecture
- you understand the great issues and scientific challenges in the Archaeology of the Levant

2. Applying knowledge and understanding:
- you can identify ancient cities and major culturally significant geographic features discussed in class on a map of the Levant
- you can make an informed guess about dating and function of emblematic urban features discussed in class
- given a topic discussed in class, you can design a simple research strategy to address it
- you can connect specific issues discussed in class with great topical challenges

3. Making judgements
- you can formulate your own interpretative hypothesis for the classes of artefacs and sources discussed in class
- you can formulate your own critical opinion of the textbooks and articles read in class

4. Communication
- you learn to cooperate in groups to solve archaeological problems
- you exercize your ability to speak appropriatly in front of an audience
- you learn how to write a scientific essay

5. Lifelong learning skills
- you can quickly scan a scientific article for essential information
- you can study on texts written in a language different than your mother tongue
- you can pitch your own ideas to a stakeholder and/or a wider public

A) Scientific English and French

B) Basic knowledge of the History and Archaeology of the Near East.

Prospective students who did not already successfully completed university courses in History and Archaeology of the Near East are required to study in advance (at least) the following chapters of one of the following handbooks:

1) L. Milano (ed), Il Vicino Oriente Antico dalle Origini ad Alessandra Magno, Milano 2012, chapters 4-6 [available in Italian only].

2) M. Liverani, The Ancient Near East: History, Society and Economy, London 2014, part three to five.

C) All students are required to read the following introdutury essay before the first lesson:

P. Pfälzner, Levantine kingdoms of the Late Bronze Age. In: Potts, D.T. (ed.): Companion to the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East. Oxford 2012, pp. 770-796.

You can download the text from the following repositories:

https://www.academia.edu/12280163/Levantine_Kingdoms_of_the_Late_Bronze_Age_2012 _

http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/propylaeumdok/2856/1/Pfaelzner_Levantine%20Kingdoms%202012.pdf

The topic of the course is "Archaeology of the Senses: Ugarit in the 13th century BC". The city of Ugarit is perhaps the best-documented city in the entire preclassical Mediterranean world; its Royal Palace is one of the greatest palatial centres of the Near East; findings and architectural evidence is most rich and highly significant; urban history is enigmatic and emblematic at the same time: in short, the city of Ugarit is essential for the understanding of social and historical dynamics of the Near Eastern and Mediterranean world at the verge of the 1200 BC general collapse. Is it possible to approach this complex of topical issues from the point of view of an "archaeology of the senses"? What are the limits and the merits of a "sensorial" approach to history and the archaeological data? Students will be given the chance to ponder these questions by analyzing different aspects of architecture and its impact on the human body at Ugarit and its wider cultural background.
Please note that this course is not a series of chalf-and-talk lectures, but requires the active partecipation of each student - including homework to be discussed in class. In order to pass the final exam, students are also required to submit a written essay.

Marguerite Yon, The city of Ugarit at Tell Ras Shamra, Eisenbrauns 2006

A PDF copy of the volume (in English) is available upon request.

Further reading material will be indicated in the Moodle platform and in class.

The successful student is required to participate proactively in-class activities, including homework and presentation assignments (50% of final grade) and b) to author an essay on a topic discussed in class (50% of final grade).

Lectures, integrated by research and study activities in class. Participants are required to prepare recommended readings before the lecture, to prepare presentations and to engage in class activities.

English-speaking students without or with only basic knowledge of the Italian language are welcome to attend, but are invited to contact the teacher in advance (email me).

Students planning to pass the final examinations without attending lectures are required to contact the teacher via email in due advance in order to discuss the possibility of tailored contents and an appropriate timetable.

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