ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE LEVANT

Welcome to Archaeology of the Levant! This is a course tailored for Bachelor's Degree students in Ancient Studies. Even if you're pursuing a Master's in another field, you're more than welcome to join us, though you'll need to slot this course among your optional exams.

By attending this course, you will learn about the public squares of ancient cities in the Levant, exploring their social functions and urban planning aspects. You will also become familiar with both a theoretical framework ("Why is it interesting to study ancient squares?") and the methods at our disposal ("How can I study ancient squares?"). You’ll have the chance to apply your critical thinking by presenting your own case study. Additionally, you will develop your communication skills by working collaboratively in groups to solve challenges posed by the sources, using appropriate terminology. By the end of the course, you will have refined your skills in analyzing excavation reports and contributions with theoretical and methodological perspectives, and you will have had the opportunity to present your ideas publicly.

Passion, interest, and curiosity for the subject. Affinity for cooperative work and group discussion. Commitment to actually reading the texts we're going to discuss!

This year, the course is dedicated to the archaeology of public space, with a particular focus on squares. Contrary to common belief, the urban logic of ancient cities in the Levant included various types of squares, understood as open public spaces within the road system. Squares have always— and ancient Levant is no exception— served as fundamental places for the construction and negotiation of social, economic, and gender relations. They are stages for civic ceremonies, contested spaces within neighborhood dynamics, and the very essence of community life.

However, they are also “empty” spaces—almost the negative imprint of the network of buildings. So how can we identify them in the archaeological record? How can we study them and use them as sources for understanding ancient social life?

In the first part of the course, we will equip ourselves with theoretical and methodological tools to address these questions. In the second part, we will comparatively analyze some emblematic cases of squares, focusing particularly on those from the period between 3500 and 2500 BCE.

General Reference Works:

Greenberg, R. (2019) The archaeology of the Bronze Age Levant: from urban origins to the demise of city-states, 3700-1000 BCE. Cambridge, United Kingdom New York: Cambridge University Press (Cambridge world archaeology).
Akkermans, P.M.M.G. and Schwartz, G.M. (2003) The archaeology of Syria: from complex hunter-gatherers to early urban societies (c. 16,000-300 BC). Cambridge, UK ; New York: Cambridge University Press (Cambridge world archaeology).

The successful student is required to participate proactively in-class activities, including homework and presentation assignments (50% of final grade) and b) to author an essay on a topic discussed in class (50% of final grade).

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Regarding the grading scale (the method by which grades will be assigned), regardless of whether the student is attending or non-attending:

Scores in the 18-22 range will be given in the presence of:

Sufficient knowledge and applied understanding related to the syllabus;
Limited ability to gather and/or interpret data, forming independent judgments;
Sufficient communication skills, particularly in relation to the use of specific and appropriate terminology;

Scores in the 23-26 range will be given in the presence of:

Fair knowledge and applied understanding related to the syllabus;
Fair ability to gather and/or interpret data, forming independent judgments;
Fair communication skills, particularly in relation to the use of specific terminology;

Scores in the 27-30 range will be given in the presence of:

Good to excellent knowledge and applied understanding related to the syllabus;
Suitable to excellent ability to gather and/or interpret data, forming independent judgments;
Wholly appropriate communication skills, particularly in relation to the use of specific and appropriate terminology and language;

Honors will be awarded in the presence of excellent knowledge and applied understanding related to the syllabus, judgment capability, and communication skills.

Directed Reading, integrated by research and study activities in class. Participants are required to prepare recommended readings before the lecture, to prepare presentations and to engage in class activities.

English-speaking students without or with only basic knowledge of the Italian language are welcome to attend, but are invited to contact the teacher in advance (email me).

Students planning to pass the final examinations without attending lectures are required to contact the teacher via email in due advance in order to discuss the possibility of tailored contents and an appropriate timetable.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Cities, infrastructure and social capital" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development