ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES MOD. 1

The teaching falls within the integrative training activities of the Master degree in Ancient Civilisations: Literature, History and Archaeology: it allows the student to acquire the knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and methodological fundamentals necessary for the study of archaeology of production, and aims to offer a reflection on the state of art, the tools and aims of current research using a specific case (the study of ancient ceramic production and consumption). The aim of the course is to develop the capacity for analysis and critical re-elaboration of information in relation to the methodological approaches used, to stimulate the ability to manage and manipulate complex data, and to stimulate the development of interdisciplinary research paths.

1. Knowledge and understanding
● To know the fundamentals of the history of the discipline (archaeology of production).
● To know the theoretical and methodological foundamentals of the study of a specific case of archaeology of production: ceramic production.
● To know the main methods used in the study and analysis of ceramics in archeology (dating, quantification, archaeometric analysis, distribution studies, multivariate analysis and IT applications, etc.).
● To be able to understand and evaluate the results (i.e. interpretations) of theories and methods applied to the practice evaluating the results obtained also in relation to the methodologies adopted and the research objectives.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
● To know how to distinguish the various states of production of ancient ceramics, with the appropriate methods of investigation.
● To know how to recognize and interpret patterns of production, distribution and consumption of ancient ceramics
● Know how to evaluate the information potential of ceramic fragments and establish the most appropriate methods of analysis and data processing in relation to research objectives.
● To know how to apply the acquired methodological knowledge to manage and manipulate complex data and to elaborate, even autonomously, interdisciplinary research paths in archaeology of production.

3. Ability to judge
● Develop the ability to develop a critical approach to the evaluation of interpretative syntheses based on ceramological data.

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

5. Learning skills
● Knowing how to take notes and share them in a collaborative way.
● Knowing how to critically consult the reference texts and the bibliography contained in them.
Pre-requirements
Having 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.

Having 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.

a) Introduction to the archeology of production.
b) The potential of ceramic finds in archeology.
c) Production, distribution and consumption, reuse and multi-functionality of ancient ceramics.
d) The characterization studies, the ceramic technology and the determination of the properties of ancient ceramics: the archaeometric analyses. Methods and potential; the study of interaction: production centres, consumption centres, models of exchange and production.
e) Ceramics and content. The analysis of residues: methods and potential
f) Distribution studies, IT applications and multivariate analysis in the study of ancient ceramics
g) Exercises in the classroom for reading and analysing scientific texts related to ancient ceramics. Discussions in the classroom on research approaches, methods and objectives.
h) Case study: the state of research on storage vessels and content for fish-based products transport and consumption in the Roman world.

There is NOT a program for non-attending students.

Mandatory texts
T. Mannoni, E. Giannichedda, 1996/2003, Archeologia della produzione, Torino (only parts indicated at lesson).
C.ORTON, P.TYERS, A.VINCE, 1993/2003 Pottery in Archaeology, Cambridge (only parts indicated at lesson).

Integrative readings:
N.CUOMO DI CAPRIO, Ceramica in archeologia 2: antiche tecniche di lavorazione e moderni metodi di indagine, L'Erma" di Bretschneider, Roma 2007 (only parts indicated at lesson).
Further readings will be recommended in class.

The verification of learning takes place through an oral test. During the test the student must demonstrate knowledge of the topics developed during the course, to know how to expose them in a way
formal and to have acquired the ability to correlate research approaches and methodologies in order to arrive from the archaeological data (= the informative potential) to its interpretation
(= reconstruction of processes). Critical and argumentative ability will also be evaluated. The questions will be wide-ranging to allow widespread, complex and complex discussions. The student will also have to choose an edited research work to be used in the classroom discussions and then, during the exam, as a specific case study to be critically analysed, especially in terms of the relationship methodologies adopted - research objectives - objectives achieved

The course is organized in:
a) web lectures with the aid of power point presentations;
b) interactive lectures and classroom discussion on selected topics where the students will have to discuss, analyse 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

Further information
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 March 2021.
3) Between August and September2021 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 March 2021.
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).

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