MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY II

The course is part of the base disciplines, curriculum of Archaeology, Bachelor's Degree program in Conservation of Cultural Heritage and Performing Art Management. The course integrates with the previous one (Medieval Archaeology I) and represents a completion. Its function is to offer the student an in-depth study on some of the main topics covered by medieval Italian archeology. Following this course the student will have the opportunity to complete his cycle of training experience in this specific field of archaeology. The training activity can be supplemented by the use of the instrumentation of the Laboratory of Computer Science applied to Medieval Archaeology (IAMVE) and by the participation in excavations / surveys organized during the summer and autumn period.

At the end of the course, the student of the Medieval Archeology II will have acquired advanced skills on the history and the research in the field of medieval archaeology, with particular reference to the Italian experience. This course is very well integrates with an advanced stage in archaeological training, and specifically medieval. The skills achieved can also be usefully spent in the field of history in general (especially medieval and modern), cultural anthropology, and the history of medieval art. Through the analysis of specific cases, the student will have the opportunity to deal with more complex and articulated stages of scientific research. Through these cases it will also have the opportunity to confront specific theoretical models and specific methodologies. These tools can be useful also in anticipation of the final three-year project.

It is advisable to possess notions of medieval history, history of medieval art and archaeology (theoretical and methodological). Also it is necessary to have attendance of the exam of Medieval Archaeology I.

The course is organized in five didactic units and an Introduction.
The didacric units are as follows
1. Castles in the Middle Ages I
This didactic unit shall consider the revival of medievalism in the nineteenth century and its repercussions on the restoration of monuments. Then, it shall analyze the problem of fortifications in Italy between late antiquity and the early Middle Ages (the so called "the first generation castles"). A first specific case analyzed will be that of the castles of the Garda area.
2. Castles in the Middle Ages II
This second didactic unit shall continue the analysis of the first generation castles with the specific case of Cuol di Ciastiel, a fortified site of Friuli. Then, it shall continue with the analysis of the toponym of castle and its implications in the historical reconstruction of early medieval urbanism, with the examples of Pisa, Bologna and Venice.
3. Archaeology of the monasteries in the Venetian lagoon.
In this third unit the theme of the archaeology of the monasteries will be dealt with. The monasteries in the lagoon of Venice will be examined and, specifically, the cases of Sant'Ilario, in the south lagoon, and of San Giacomo Maggiore, in the northern lagoon.
4. Archaeology of the new medieval cities.
In this fourth unit shall be addressed the theme of the new cities that arose in the early Middle Ages and in particular Venice and Comacchio.
5. Archaeology of production.
In this last unit the theme of the archaeology of production shall be addressed. After a general introduction, the cycle of ceramics, glass and metals shall be considered.

Those who want prepare the course in English must use the following texts:
On Venice, Comacchio and Emporia (Didactic Unit IV: New Towns): S. Gelichi, Flourishing places in North-Eastern Italy: towns and emporia between late antiquity and the Carolingian Age, in J. Henning (ed), Post-Roman Towns, Trade and Settlement in Europe and Byzantium. Vol. 1. The Heirs of the Roman West, Berlin – New York, 2007, pp. 77-104; S. Gelichi, The eels of Venice. The long eight century of the emporia of the northern region along the Adriatic coast, in S. Gasparri (a cura di), 774. Ipotesi su una transizione, Poggibonsi 2006, Turnhout, 2008, pp. 81-117; S. Gelichi, Venice, Comacchio and the Adriatic Emporia between the Lombard and Carolingian ages, in A. Willemsen – H. Kik (eds), Dorestad in an International Framework. New Research on Centres of Trade and Coinage in Carolingian Times, Turnhout, 2010, pp. 149-157; S. Gelichi, The future of Venice’s Past and the Archaeology of the North-Eastern Adriatic Emporia during the Early Middle Ages, in J. G. Schryver (ed), Studies in the Archaeology of the Medieval Mediterranean, Leiden, 2010, pp. 175-210.
And in general: S. Gelichi, R. Hodges (eds.), From one sea to another. Trading places in the European and Mediterranean Early Middle Ages, Proceedings From one sea to another. Trading places in the European and Mediterranean Early Middle Ages,of the International Conference (Comacchio 27th-29th March 2009), Turnhout (Brepols) 2012; R. Francovich, R. Hodges, Villa to village. The Transformation of the Roman Countryside in Italy, c. 400-1000, London 2003; R. Hodges, Towns and trade in the Age of Charlemagne, London 2000; R. Hodges, Light in the Dark Ages: The Rise and Fall of San Vincenzo al Volturno,Ithaca, Cornell University Press, 1997.

The course is organized in five didactic units. The final examination is oral and the aim is to ensure the acquisition of the basic knowledge of the discipline. The abilities to synthesize information, of the use of a proper scientific terminology will also be assessed. The final mark is the result of the average of the points earned for each answer (in general from three to five).

The course is organized in five didactic units and an introduction.
The didactic units are as follows
1. Castles in the Middle Ages I
2. Castles in the Middle Ages II
3. Archaeology of the monasteries in the Venetian lagoon.
4. Archaeology of the new medieval cities.
5. Archaeology of production.
During the lessons figures and texts on power point support will be used.

Italian

Ca' Foscari applies the Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) for support services available to students with disabilities or with specific learning disorders. If you have a motor, visual, hearing or other disability (Law 17/1999) or a specific learning disorder (Law 170/2010) and require support (classroom assistance, technological aids for carrying out exams or individualized exams, material in accessible format, note recovery, specialist tutoring to support the study, interpreters or other) contact the Disability Office and DSA disabilita@unive.it.

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