MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY I

The course is part of the base disciplines, curriculum of Archaeology, Bachelor's Degree program in Conservation of Cultural Heritage and Performing Art Management. Its function is to offer the student the opportunity to get knowledge on a different mode of archaeological approach, taking into account what are the current orientations of the scientific community that study the past according to great chronological divisions. The chronological arch, of which medieval archaeology is concerned, corresponds with the traditional one of the historical disciplines. Following this course the student will have the opportunity to complete his cycle of training experience in the field of archaeology. While providing a general framework of the discipline, the course will specifically develop the Italian experience.

At the end of course, the student shall acquire basic skills of the discipline regarding: history of the discipline (from the nineteenth century until today); the main theoretical and methodological tools employed (detection techniques and study of medieval archaeological contexts); the main topics of study, such as castles, monasteries, churches, cities, burials, artifacts and the specific results achieved by research in recent years. The basic knowledge described above belongs to the skills of the curriculum of Archaeology and is connected in a completely consistent manner with a more general formation of a historical nature, with particular reference to the history of the Middle Ages.

A basic knowledge of medieval history and archaeology (theoretical and methodological) is recommended.

The course is designed as an introduction to the discipline. Therefore, this section shall describe the history of archaeology, moving from the experience of the positivist archaeology of the 19th century, passing through the Lombard archaeology, the archaeology of pottery, the archaeology of the deserted villages and finishing with the experiences of the 1970s. Further, the analyses of the relationship between archaeology and medieval history, medieval archaeology and archaeology of masonry, medieval archaeology and institutions, will be outlined. In addition, the main issues that medieval archaeology has dealt with from the 1970s to the present will be addressed through a short review.

S. Gelichi, Introduzione all'archeologia medievale. Storia e ricerca in Italia, Carocci, Roma 2017
Archeologia Medievale, numero speciale–Quarant’anni di Archeologia Medievale in Italia. La rivista, i temi, la teoria e i metodi. All’Insegna del Giglio, 2014.
Caterina Giostra, La struttura sociale nelle necropoli longobarde italiane, Archeologia Barbarica, 2016
S. Gelichi, LA CITTÀ IN ITALIA TRA VI E VIII SECOLO: RIFLESSIONI DOPO UN TRENTENNIO DI DIBATTITO ARCHEOLOGICO, in ESPACIOS URBANOS EN EL OCCIDENTE MEDITERRÁNEO (S. VI - VIII), 2010, pp. 65 - 85
A. Molinari, La “pietrificazione” del costruito nell’Europa meridionale del pieno Medioevo. Considerazioni comparative dalla prospettiva archeologica, Archeologia dell’Architettura, XXVI, 2021, pp. 275-287
M. Ferri, C. Moine, L’isola di domani. Cultura materiale e contesti archeologici a San Giacomo in Paludo (Venezia), 2014, pp. 1-20 e 180-212

The exam verification is oral and is intended to ascertain the acquisition of fundamental knowledge related to the discipline. It also includes an assessment of the student's argumentative ability, synthesis and mastery of scientific vocabulary. The final grade constitutes the outcome of the average of the scores achieved in the individual questions (generally from three to five).

oral

A basic knowledge of course content, contextualizing topics chronologically and using appropriate technical language, results in a sufficient grade (18-24/30); a good knowledge of course content, effectively framing topics chronologically and contextually, using technical language, and applying a critical approach, results in a good grade (25-28/30); a comprehensive understanding of course content, mastering complexities, linking to broader phenomena, offering original interpretations, and demonstrating critical reflection, results in an excellent grade (29/30 with laude).

The course is lecture-based. It will be supported by the use of images and texts in PowerPoint. Additional in-depth materials may be uploaded to Moodle.