MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY

The course is part of the characterizing disciplines of curriculum of Archaeology, Master's Degree Programma in Ancient Civilization. Literature, History and Archaeology. The function of the course is to offer the student a deepening of the subject, through the study and analysis of a specific argument. This subject shall preferably be chosen in the Late Antiquity or Early Middle Ages period (6th-10th century). This course is integrated with other courses of the area of medieval archaeology in the curriculum of study, such as Sp. Medieval Archaeology, Post-Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Numismatics and Medieval Topography. Obviously, the course is also in connection with other courses on medieval subjects, such as Medieval History. Following this course the student shall have the opportunity to complete his cycle of training experience in Medieval Archaeology. The analysis and development of a specific theme is functional to provide innovative conceptual, theoretical and methodological frameworks. 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, thanks to the individual commitment in the topics of the lessons, the student of Medieval Archaeology Sp. shall acquire a range of skills on specific subjects of Medieval Archaeology. These skills are part of a wider education in the archaeological activity, as stated in the description of the Master's Degree. More in detail, the teaching offers greater critical competence. This competence concerns not only the acquisition of basics, but also the the acquisition of some organizing signalized topics in the activities during the lesson. Skills in the discipline can be integrated with the other courses in the area of archaeologies of the Middle Ages I.e. Post-Medieval Archaeology and Medieval Topography.

Attendance to the course Medieval Archaeology I or basic knowledge of Archaeology (Methodology) and Medieval History.

The theme of the course will be: Venice before Venice: an archaeological perspective. Venice before Venice is the archipelago of many islands on which, according to the myth of the founding of one of the very few cities created during the Middle Ages, people fleeing the barbarians would have found refuge. But historical reality is different from myth. In this course we will attempt to look at this phenomenon, both through a renewed approach to written sources (the development of the Venetian duchy during the 6th-8th centuries starting from Byzantine military structures, the relationship with both mainland powers and Byzantium) and above all archaeology. In particular, from this point of view, an attempt will be made to answer the following questions: is an archaeology of the lagoon useful for investigating these early periods? and if so, what kind of archaeology has been practised so far? and how, if at all, has it been used? An attempt will also be made to restore the material face of the new city, through what we know of the houses, churches, and buildings of public and religious power, or of the use of the space. In addition, archaeology will also be used to investigate social relations between communities, shedding light on behaviour in various spheres of public and private life. The archaeological sources examined will refer both to Venice proper (i.e. the area where, around Rialto, the city developed), and to the islands and settlements that arose in or near the lagoon.

S. Gasparri, S. Gelichi, Le isole del rifugio. Venezia prima di Venezia, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2024. Other more specific texts will be indicated during the course.

The 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 foto five).

The course is face to face. During the lessons figures and texts on power point support will be used. During the course, the students can elaborate a short dissertation (optional), which shall constitute the exam topic (integrated with some other topics exposed during the lessons).

Italian

Attendance is to the course is highly suggested.
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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