ARCHAEOLOGY AND MATERIAL CULTURE

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
● To know the objectives and methods of the discipline under study
● To know the theories and methods for the study of archaeological data pertaining to the course.
● To know the basic archaeological terminology in reference to the cultural context of the course.
● To knows the basic procedures relating to the treatment of a specific class of specimens: ceramics.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
● To know how to correctly use the archaeological reference terminology 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 research 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 know 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.

There are no specific requirements to access this course

A) Introduction
What is an object? Brief definition and history of material culture in archeology.
What methods are used to investigate the findings of material culture? Between archeology, anthropology and hard sciences: an interdisciplinary theme!
What are the finds of material culture in archeology for? How to reconstruct chronologies, contexts, micro-stories, processes and macro-stories. What information does the study of objects provide us with? The finds as a tool to investigate the relationships between people and things (knowledge, practices, rituals, ceremonial, ...), between things and things, to reconstruct the processes that produce objects etc.
B) Practical case and training in classroom: the potential of ceramics in archeology. How to document and investigate it? Exercises and insights into Roman ceramics by manipulating ancient materials from the Ca 'Foscari excavations in Aquileia.
How to recognize and treat the ceramic finds? How to document them? Documenting during the excavation and after the excavation: drawing, photography, classification, study and publication of ceramics. Beyond the excavation: extracting data and information from ceramic finds through laboratory investigations. The study of fabrics, coatings and the determination of the paleocontent.
Non-attending students can contact the teacher via email for advice or for further information on the program and preparation for the exam.

Notes and ppt presentations that will be available in the Moodle platform.
Further readings will be recommended in class.

Oral examination (first call only and then oral examination) with 3 long questions and some short questions.
Grading:
A. marks in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- sufficient knowledge and applied understanding with reference to the syllabus;
- limited ability to collect and/or interpret data, making independent judgements;
- sufficient communication skills, especially in relation to the use of specific language.
B. marks in band 23-26 will be awarded in the presence of:
- discrete knowledge and applied understanding with reference to the syllabus;
- discrete ability to collect and/or interpret data, making autonomous judgements;
- fair communication skills, especially in relation to the use of specific language.
C. Scores in the 27-30 bracket will be awarded in the presence of:
- good or very good knowledge and applied understanding with reference to the syllabus;
- good or very good ability to collect and/or interpret data, making autonomous judgements;
- fully appropriate communication skills, especially in relation to the use of specific language.
D. Honours will be awarded in the presence of knowledge and ability of applied understanding with reference to the program, judgement and communication skills, excellent.

The course is organized in:
a) lectures with the aid of power point presentations;
b) interactive practical lectures using ancient ceramics;
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) During the year 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.
3) Between June and September 2025 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 April 2025.
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 artifacs. 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