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 site of Mari, an mportant urban centre of the third and second millennium BC between Syria and Upper Mesopotamia

At the end of the course students are 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 or French language. They are 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 their 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 site of Mari (Tell Hariri), an urban centre of the third and second millennium BC located close to the border between Syria and Iraq, investigated for almost one century by a French archaeological expedition. A series of introductory lessons, by the lecturer, about the discovery of the site and its excavations, its history, its topography and material culture during the Early and the Middle Bronze Age will be followed by short presentations, by the students, of different excavation areas, monuments or categories of artefacts. Each student is also expected to prepare a short piece of research about one aspect of the course theme (e.g. about one of the most significant classes of materials). This work will be discussed during the last lessons and tranformed into a short written essay before the exam.

Notes taken during the lessons and displayed PP presentations (available on Moodle)

Suggested readings:
- 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.
- D. NADALI, F. PINNOCK (Eds), Archeologia della Siria antica, Roma 2021 (Carocci) oppure 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
2) On the topic of the course:
- J.-Cl. MARGUERON, Mari, métropole de l’Euphrate, Paris 2004.
- PASCAL BUTTERLIN, JEAN MARGUERON, BÉATRICE MULLER, MICHEL MAQDISSI, DOMINIQUE BEYER, ANTOINE CAVIGNEAUX (eds), Mari, ni Est, ni Ouest, Actes du colloque "Mari ni Est ni Ouest" tenu en octobre 2010 à Damas, Syrie, 2 volumes, Paris, IFPO 2014 (Supplément Syria II).

For students who are unable to attend the lessons (this option is not recommemded):
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.
- D. NADALI, F. PINNOCK (Eds), Archeologia della Siria antica, Roma 2021 (Carocci) oppure 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
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 semester (third and fourth 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, Ancien Egyptian culture, Late and Hellenistic-Roman Egypt, Cipriote archaeology, Aegean archaeology, Near Eastern History, Literatures of the Ancient Near East, Semitic Philology, The city in the Islamic world, Heritage: politics and practices in the Islamic world


Ca’ Foscari applica la Legge Italiana (Legge 17/1999; Legge 170/2010) per i servizi di supporto e di accomodamento disponibili agli studenti con disabilità o con disturbi specifici dell’apprendimento. Se hai una disabilità motoria, visiva, dell’udito o altre disabilità (Legge 17/1999) o un disturbo specifico dell’apprendimento (Legge 170/2010) e richiedi supporto (assistenza in aula, ausili tecnologici per lo svolgimento di esami o esami individualizzati, materiale in formato accessibile, recupero appunti, tutorato specialistico a supporto dello studio, interpreti o altro) contatta l’ufficio Disabilità e DSA disabilita@unive.it.

written and oral

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