Geoarchaeology and Quaternary Geology
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course consists of two units that intend to train graduating students in the fields of Geoarchaeology and Quaternary Geology, providing them with the necessary cultural and technical basis to carry out research and professional activities in archaeological projects and in the reconstruction of climatic variations in the Quaternary
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students are expected to be able to identify the best techniques to deal with survey and archaeological excavation, as well as being able to describe a stratigraphic sequence and to sample it correctly for dating and laboratory analysis. Moreover, they will acquire competence about natural and anthropogenic climate changes during the Quaternary period.
Lesson period: year
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Prerequisites for admission
Basics in Earth Sciences and Archaeology
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral exam with a judgment expressed out of thirty. The actual understanding of the contents provided and the processes described will be evaluated. The ability to summarize and the use of appropriate terminology will also be considered.
QUATERNARY GEOLOGY
Course syllabus
Quaternary definition and general concepts. Historical context. Chronology.
Glacial-interglacial cycles. Glacialism. Evidence of glaciations. Causes of climate change. Notes on the Anthropocene and current climate change.
Quaternary continental and marine deposits. Biostasy and resistasy. Processes of weathering, erosion, transport and deposition. Sea level fluctuations.
Paleoclimatic reconstruction: ice cores, marine sediments, loess and paleosols, speleothems, lake sediments, non-geologic "proxy data." Oxygen isotopic stratigraphy.
Methods of study and main dating methods.
In-depth study: the Holocene and the Little Ice Age. Case studies.
Glacial-interglacial cycles. Glacialism. Evidence of glaciations. Causes of climate change. Notes on the Anthropocene and current climate change.
Quaternary continental and marine deposits. Biostasy and resistasy. Processes of weathering, erosion, transport and deposition. Sea level fluctuations.
Paleoclimatic reconstruction: ice cores, marine sediments, loess and paleosols, speleothems, lake sediments, non-geologic "proxy data." Oxygen isotopic stratigraphy.
Methods of study and main dating methods.
In-depth study: the Holocene and the Little Ice Age. Case studies.
Teaching methods
Lessons
Teaching Resources
Slides and books on specific topics
GEOARCHAEOLOGY
Course syllabus
An history of Geoarchaeology
The Archaeological research in the field: the stratigraphic excavation, the survey.
The tools of the geoarchaeology: soils, continental deposits, landscapes in environmental archaeology. Geognostic in geoarchaeology, survey, aerial photographs, remote sensing, core drilling, test pits,
Site forming processes: laboratory analyses, grain size, routine chimica analyses, soil micromorphology for an archaeological context
Dating the evidence: typological sequence for lithics and pottery. Incremetal and radiometric methods.
Geoarchaeology and Archeological research
Earth Sciences and the interpretation of the archaeological record. Evidence of human activities in the geological record: syndepositional and postdepositional processes. Geoarchaeology and the history of the human impact on the environment.
Geoarchaeology of the archeological sites
Poorly preseved sites: sites in which postpedositional processes dominated: Palaeolithic sites in the loes of Northern Italy. The Mesolithic sites of the Tosco-emilian Appennines.
Well preserved archives: Geoarchaeology of the sedimentary fills in late Pleistocene caves and rock shelters at middle latitudes.
Villages and proto-urban centres built up in wood. Geoarchoeology of pile-dwellings and terramare
The towns . Archaeological urban centres: The tells of the Near East. Geoarcheology ed Urban Archaeology: Archaeological heritage of the cities along via Aemilia.
Geoarcheology of the soil use.
Deforestation and early agricolture (case studies from the Neolithic and the Chalcolithic in the Po plain)
Geoarcheology of over exploitation (agricultural practices and irrigation in Mesopotamia ed in the Po plain during the Bronze age)
Geoarchaeology of Pastoralism (The case study of the Holocene sediments in caves and rock-shelters)
Geoarcheologia of arid zones
Climatic changes and strategies of adaptation. Oasis and caravan routes.
Consequence of the human impact on landscape development, the relationship between human activities and climate change, historical and archaeological perspectives
Sourcing.
Archaeometric and geoarchaeological aspect of identification of the source of raw material used during Antiquity.
The Archaeological research in the field: the stratigraphic excavation, the survey.
The tools of the geoarchaeology: soils, continental deposits, landscapes in environmental archaeology. Geognostic in geoarchaeology, survey, aerial photographs, remote sensing, core drilling, test pits,
Site forming processes: laboratory analyses, grain size, routine chimica analyses, soil micromorphology for an archaeological context
Dating the evidence: typological sequence for lithics and pottery. Incremetal and radiometric methods.
Geoarchaeology and Archeological research
Earth Sciences and the interpretation of the archaeological record. Evidence of human activities in the geological record: syndepositional and postdepositional processes. Geoarchaeology and the history of the human impact on the environment.
Geoarchaeology of the archeological sites
Poorly preseved sites: sites in which postpedositional processes dominated: Palaeolithic sites in the loes of Northern Italy. The Mesolithic sites of the Tosco-emilian Appennines.
Well preserved archives: Geoarchaeology of the sedimentary fills in late Pleistocene caves and rock shelters at middle latitudes.
Villages and proto-urban centres built up in wood. Geoarchoeology of pile-dwellings and terramare
The towns . Archaeological urban centres: The tells of the Near East. Geoarcheology ed Urban Archaeology: Archaeological heritage of the cities along via Aemilia.
Geoarcheology of the soil use.
Deforestation and early agricolture (case studies from the Neolithic and the Chalcolithic in the Po plain)
Geoarcheology of over exploitation (agricultural practices and irrigation in Mesopotamia ed in the Po plain during the Bronze age)
Geoarchaeology of Pastoralism (The case study of the Holocene sediments in caves and rock-shelters)
Geoarcheologia of arid zones
Climatic changes and strategies of adaptation. Oasis and caravan routes.
Consequence of the human impact on landscape development, the relationship between human activities and climate change, historical and archaeological perspectives
Sourcing.
Archaeometric and geoarchaeological aspect of identification of the source of raw material used during Antiquity.
Teaching methods
Lessons
Teaching Resources
Slides and books on specific topics
Modules or teaching units
GEOARCHAEOLOGY
GEO/04 - PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professor:
Zerboni Andrea
QUATERNARY GEOLOGY
GEO/04 - PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professors:
Costanzo Stefano, Trombino Luca
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
On appointment
In my office, Via Mangiagalli 34, 2nd floor, room 77
Reception:
Mon-Fri, 9-11.
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra "Ardito Desio", Via L. Mangiagalli 34, 20133 Milano