POST MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY

The course is part of the archeology teachings of the master's degree course in "Ancient Civilisations: Literature, History and Archaeologym [FM2]" and is part of the group of subjects in the medieval archeology area present in the study programme, such as Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Topography and Late Ancient and Early Medieval Archaeology, integrating and completing the students' knowledge in the discipline of medieval archaeology, deepening each time on specific topics.
The Post-Medieval Archeology course intends to act as a moment of advanced training in the use of archaeological sources for the study of the modern era. The course will present an updated, albeit synthetic, panorama of the main archaeological research trends in the global arena. The theoretical approach to the problems will also be highlighted.
A part of the course will be devoted to the examination of the main themes of Post-Medieval archeology through the analysis of exemplary case studies.
In the 2023/2024 academic year, these modules will be addressed:
- Introduction to the discipline, theoretical approaches and case studies (Lessons 1-6)
- Decorative motifs, symbolic motifs, imaginary and reality (lessons 6-10)

Expected results

Attendance and active participation in the training activities offered by the course (lectures, in-depth thematic seminars, material laboratory) and individual study will allow for:

1. Knowledge and understanding
- Know and give a critical reading of the main archaeological research directions
- Know the research methodologies applied to the study of material culture in the modern context
- Know the main themes of post-medieval archaeological research in Italy

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
- Knowing how to give a reading of the theoretical reference context of various case studies of archaeological research
- Knowing how to chronologically frame material classes and types, with particular reference to glass and ceramics
- Knowing how to give an interpretation of the thematic context of reference of various case studies of archaeological research

3. Judgment skills
- Know how to formulate hypotheses and argue dynamics of development and diffusion of objects and ideas
- Develop a critical approach to evaluating alternative hypotheses.

4. Communication skills
- Knowing how to describe objects and ideas related to them with technical language, appropriate terminology and in a critical way.

5. Learning ability
- Knowing how to critically consult the bibliographic tools useful for dealing with insights and sector studies.

Preferable but not required to have attended an Archeology course, such as Medieval Archeology or Archaeological Research Methodology. Knowledge of medieval and modern history.

The course will present an updated, albeit synthetic, panorama of the main archaeological research trends on the modern centuries in a global context. The theoretical approach to the problems will also be highlighted.
A part of the course will be devoted to the examination of the main themes of Post-Medieval archeology through the analysis of exemplary case studies.

These are the modules that will be addressed:
- Introduction to the discipline, theoretical approaches and case studies (Lessons 1-6)
- Modernity, symbolism, fantasy and reality between the Middle Ages and the Modern Era, in the Mediterranean and the New World (Lectures 6-10)
In the final part of the course, guided and/or online visits to museum collections will be possible, based on the students' availability and interests.

Archeologia Postmedievale: l’esperienza europea e l’Italia, Atti del Convegno Internazionale di Studi, Sassari, 17-20 Ottobre 1994, “Archeologia Postmedievale”, I (1997), pp. 13-25.
Constructing post-medieval archaeology in Italy: a new agenda, Venezia, 24-25 Novembre 2006, a cura di Sauro Gelichi e Mauro Librenti.
Belford Paul, Five centuries of iron working: excavations at Wednesbury Forge, Post-Medieval Archaeology, 44:1 (2010), 1-53.
Berg Maxine. "In pursuit of luxury: global history and British consumer goods in the eighteenth century." Past & present 182 (2004): 85-142.
Degroot, Dagomar. «Climate Change and Society in the 15th to 18th Centuries». WIREs Climate Change 9, fasc. 3 (maggio 2018).
Johnson M. , An Archaeology of Capitalism, Oxford, 1996.
Ferri, Margherita, Moine Cecilia. L’isola di domani. Cultura materiale e contesti archeologici a San Giacomo in Paludo (Venezia). All’Insegna del Giglio, 2014.
Ferri, M., Moine, C., Sabbionesi, L., 2016. In & Around - ceramica e comunità, secondo convegno tematico dell'AIECM3: Faenza, Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche, 17 - 19 aprile 2015. Firenze. [pp. 11-122]
Gelichi S., Librenti M., 1998 (a cura di), Senza immensa dote. Le Clarisse di Finale Emilia tra archeologia e storia , Firenze.
Gelichi S., Librenti M., 2001, Ceramiche e conventi in Emilia Romagna in epoca moderna : un bilancio, in GELICHI S. 2001, (a cura di), Ceramiche e corredi monacali in epoca moderna . Atti del Convegno di Studi, Finale Emilia , 1 ottobre 1998, in “Archeologia Post-Medievale”, 5 (2001), pp. 13-38.
Gosden Chris and Marshall Yvonne, The Cultural Biography of Objects, World Archaeology, Vol. 31, No. 2, (Oct., 1999), pp. 169-178
Holtorf Cornelius. "Notes on the life history of a pot sherd." Journal of material culture 7.1 (2002): 49-71.
Ljungqvist, Fredrik Charpentier, Andrea Seim, e Heli Huhtamaa. «Climate and Society in European History». WIREs Climate Change 12, fasc. 2 (marzo 2021).
Robinson, Peter J. «Ice and Snow in Paintings of Little Ice Age Winters». Weather 60, fasc. 2 (1 febbraio 2005): 37–41.
Smart Martin Ann, The Role of Pewter as Missing Artifact: Consumer Attitudes toward Tablewares in Late 18th Century Virginia, Historical Archaeology , 1989, Vol. 23, No. 2 (1989), pp. 1-27
Kopytoff Igor. "The cultural biography of things: commoditization as process." The social life of things: Commodities in cultural perspective 68 (1986): 70-73.

Further bibliography relating to individual case studies will be indicated at the beginning of the course.
When possible the texts will be made available in Moodle.

The course provides two complementary ways of verifying learning.
During the course period, two/three short bibliographic cards will be assigned to be uploaded on Moodle.
At the end of the course the oral test will take place with the discussion of the papers carried out and with the verification of learning through some open questions.
The verification intends to ascertain the acquisition of the fundamental knowledge of the discipline and the ability to argue and synthesise, the mastery of the scientific vocabulary.
The final grade is given by the evaluation of the participation in the lessons in presence, by the evaluation of the term papers and by the skills demonstrated during the oral exam.

The materials used during the lessons will be available in Moodle.
The course includes lectures and seminars (oral presentation in turn, participation in class discussion).
The exact calendar of lessons will be provided at the beginning of the course and may also include visits to museums, to be agreed on the basis of the students' interests.
Active participation in the course is recommended.

Italian

Please contact the professor for further information on the supplementary activities of the Medieval Archeology Laboratory (excavations, study of materials).

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Climate change and energy" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development