Methodology of Archaeological Research Ma
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
To understand, as much as possible with the practical components, the activities of archaeological research in the field and in the laboratory, with particular attention to modern research methods related to excavation, archaeological survey and the study of ancient production through analysis of finds. The goal is to offer investigative and interpretive tools that are applicable in diverse contexts of time and location.
The study of some shipwreck cargoes at some Museums in Liguria and at the Instituto Internazionale degli Studi Liguri (if the public health situation allows) will introduce students to underwater archaeology.
The study of some shipwreck cargoes at some Museums in Liguria and at the Instituto Internazionale degli Studi Liguri (if the public health situation allows) will introduce students to underwater archaeology.
Expected learning outcomes
To allow the student to encounter the study of archaeological contexts and classify their finds using archaeological and archaeometric methods.
To draw attention to the scientific aspects of archaeological research and to acclimate the student to the use of tools for documenting archaeological data, and to the review and analysis of these data.
To compose a final thesis on topics covered in this course, which will facilitate the process of analysing and displaying scientific research data.
To draw attention to the scientific aspects of archaeological research and to acclimate the student to the use of tools for documenting archaeological data, and to the review and analysis of these data.
To compose a final thesis on topics covered in this course, which will facilitate the process of analysing and displaying scientific research data.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
This course presents some aspects of archaeological field research - both on land and underwater - emphasizing modern, scientific methodologies.
In particular, it focuses on the archaeology of production and trade using one of the most widely used indicators in archaeology, that is, ceramics, in order to reconstruct the processes of production and trade networks in antiquity.
- Part 1
Methodology of Archaeological and Archaeometrical Research
The first part of the course aims to highlight the importance of interdisciplinary methods and investigations in archaeology. Some of the most recent directions in archaeological research that make use of scientific methods in the laboratory and in the field will also be presented, with the presentation of case studies.
An important area of archaeological research in recent years includes the study of ancient production areas and the reconstruction of Mediterranean trade and networks, with the study of wreck cargoes in the western Mediterranean. This teaching unit aims to illustrate the objectives and some results of this ongoing research within the Immensa Aequora project (www.immensaaequora.org). Some lessons are devoted to underwater archaeology.
- Part 2
Archaeology of Ischia and the Gulf of Naples: production and trade
Particular attention will be paid to a site of great importance for Mediterranean archaeology, the island of Ischia, where the lecturer has been conducting archaeological research and archaeometry for many years.
Students will also be involved in the research being carried out on the island through a three-day seminar, which will allow them to visit the sites discussed in the lecture and also allow students to participate directly through the presentation of their papers.
- Part 3
Ceramics in archaeology and archaeometry
Pottery is an important indicator for archaeologists, not only for dating but also for reconstructing production and trade in the ancient world. The teaching unit includes a review of the 'traditional' methods of studying ancient ceramics and the presentation of the main laboratory methods for reconstructing technology, for determining the origin of containers and for reconstructing ancient trade. Attention will also be paid to the analysis of residues, which allows the nature of the contents to be established and the reconstruction of ancient food.
- Practical Part
There will be practical lessons on ancient artefacts, ceramics in particular (description and classification). A three- to four-day seminar is planned in Ischia - end of April 2025- , aimed at the knowledge of the island in ancient times and the study of Greek colonisation and the island's resources from antiquity to modern times.
- Excavation Laboratory
An integral part of this course is the excavation of a Roman villa at Dragoncello/Acilia, in the area of Ostia Antica, in collaboration with the Archaeological Superintendency of Rome.
In particular, it focuses on the archaeology of production and trade using one of the most widely used indicators in archaeology, that is, ceramics, in order to reconstruct the processes of production and trade networks in antiquity.
- Part 1
Methodology of Archaeological and Archaeometrical Research
The first part of the course aims to highlight the importance of interdisciplinary methods and investigations in archaeology. Some of the most recent directions in archaeological research that make use of scientific methods in the laboratory and in the field will also be presented, with the presentation of case studies.
An important area of archaeological research in recent years includes the study of ancient production areas and the reconstruction of Mediterranean trade and networks, with the study of wreck cargoes in the western Mediterranean. This teaching unit aims to illustrate the objectives and some results of this ongoing research within the Immensa Aequora project (www.immensaaequora.org). Some lessons are devoted to underwater archaeology.
- Part 2
Archaeology of Ischia and the Gulf of Naples: production and trade
Particular attention will be paid to a site of great importance for Mediterranean archaeology, the island of Ischia, where the lecturer has been conducting archaeological research and archaeometry for many years.
Students will also be involved in the research being carried out on the island through a three-day seminar, which will allow them to visit the sites discussed in the lecture and also allow students to participate directly through the presentation of their papers.
- Part 3
Ceramics in archaeology and archaeometry
Pottery is an important indicator for archaeologists, not only for dating but also for reconstructing production and trade in the ancient world. The teaching unit includes a review of the 'traditional' methods of studying ancient ceramics and the presentation of the main laboratory methods for reconstructing technology, for determining the origin of containers and for reconstructing ancient trade. Attention will also be paid to the analysis of residues, which allows the nature of the contents to be established and the reconstruction of ancient food.
- Practical Part
There will be practical lessons on ancient artefacts, ceramics in particular (description and classification). A three- to four-day seminar is planned in Ischia - end of April 2025- , aimed at the knowledge of the island in ancient times and the study of Greek colonisation and the island's resources from antiquity to modern times.
- Excavation Laboratory
An integral part of this course is the excavation of a Roman villa at Dragoncello/Acilia, in the area of Ostia Antica, in collaboration with the Archaeological Superintendency of Rome.
Prerequisites for admission
It is advisable to take this course BEFORE any science courses (such as chemistry and geology) - as part of the curriculum - in order to acquire the principles and fundamentals of the applied sciences of archaeology necessary to better understand and approach the study of more specialised topics.
Teaching methods
Lectures with the aid of PowerPoint presentations.
There will be practical lessons on ancient finds - description and classification of objects/find and a seminar on the island of Ischia, a reference point for archaeology in the Mediterranean, during which students will be able to visit archaeological sites and museums on the island and attend a seminar with archaeologists and historians.
There will be practical lessons on ancient finds - description and classification of objects/find and a seminar on the island of Ischia, a reference point for archaeology in the Mediterranean, during which students will be able to visit archaeological sites and museums on the island and attend a seminar with archaeologists and historians.
Teaching Resources
In addition to the texts listed below, some assignments will be added during the first lectures.
Non-attending students are asked to contact the instructor to make arrangements for completing the program.
Part 1 (Methodology of archaeological and archaeometric research)
- D. Manacorda, R. Francovich (a cura di), Dizionario di Archeologia, Roma-Bari 2000 - le seguenti voci: Archeometria; Campionatura; Commercio (Archeologia del); Contesto; Cronologia; Cultura Materiale; Datazione; Determinazione d'origine; Diagnostica archeologica; Etnoarcheologia; Geoarcheologia; New Archaeology; Produzione (Archeologia della); Post-processuale (Archeologia); Ricognizione archeologica; Scavo archeologico; Scavo, pratica e documentazione; Seriazione; Sperimentale (archeologia); Subacquea (archeologia); Tecnologie produttive; Urbana (archeologia).
Students who have not sat for their exams in Methodology at the triennial must add the following texts:
1) C. Renfrew, P. Bahn, Archeologia: Teorie, Metodi, Pratica, Zanichelli Editori, Bologna 2006
(chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 e 9).
+
- E. C. Harris, Principi di stratigrafia archeologica, Nis 1995
(parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 and Appendices).
2) - R. Petriaggi, B. Davidde, Archeologia sott'acqua. Teoria e pratica, Pisa 2007 - FOR ALL
(chapters 1, 2, 6 e 7).
OR
- C. Beltrame, Archeologia marittima del Mediterraneo. Navi, merci e porti dell'antichità all'età moderna, Roma 2012
(chapters 1, 2 e 3).
+
PART 2 ARCHAEOLOGY OF ISCHIA - FOR ALL
D. Ridgway, L'Alba della Magna Grecia, 1984
Other papers will be indicated at the beginning of the lessons
PART 3 CERAMICS IN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ARCHAEOMETRY - FOR ALL
1) N. Cuomo di Caprio, Ceramica in archeologia 2, Roma 2006.
(chapter 1 - Dall'argilla al reperto e dal reperto all'argilla, pp. 29-39).
2) G. Olcese, Il contributo delle analisi di laboratorio allo studio e alla classificazione della ceramica in archeologia, in: Acte du 8° Congrès SIMCER (Simposio Internazionale della Ceramica) "Archeometria della ceramica: problemi di metodo", (Rimini, 10-12 novembre 1992), Bologna 1993, pp. 35-53.
Non-attending students are asked to contact the instructor to make arrangements for completing the program.
Part 1 (Methodology of archaeological and archaeometric research)
- D. Manacorda, R. Francovich (a cura di), Dizionario di Archeologia, Roma-Bari 2000 - le seguenti voci: Archeometria; Campionatura; Commercio (Archeologia del); Contesto; Cronologia; Cultura Materiale; Datazione; Determinazione d'origine; Diagnostica archeologica; Etnoarcheologia; Geoarcheologia; New Archaeology; Produzione (Archeologia della); Post-processuale (Archeologia); Ricognizione archeologica; Scavo archeologico; Scavo, pratica e documentazione; Seriazione; Sperimentale (archeologia); Subacquea (archeologia); Tecnologie produttive; Urbana (archeologia).
Students who have not sat for their exams in Methodology at the triennial must add the following texts:
1) C. Renfrew, P. Bahn, Archeologia: Teorie, Metodi, Pratica, Zanichelli Editori, Bologna 2006
(chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 e 9).
+
- E. C. Harris, Principi di stratigrafia archeologica, Nis 1995
(parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 and Appendices).
2) - R. Petriaggi, B. Davidde, Archeologia sott'acqua. Teoria e pratica, Pisa 2007 - FOR ALL
(chapters 1, 2, 6 e 7).
OR
- C. Beltrame, Archeologia marittima del Mediterraneo. Navi, merci e porti dell'antichità all'età moderna, Roma 2012
(chapters 1, 2 e 3).
+
PART 2 ARCHAEOLOGY OF ISCHIA - FOR ALL
D. Ridgway, L'Alba della Magna Grecia, 1984
Other papers will be indicated at the beginning of the lessons
PART 3 CERAMICS IN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ARCHAEOMETRY - FOR ALL
1) N. Cuomo di Caprio, Ceramica in archeologia 2, Roma 2006.
(chapter 1 - Dall'argilla al reperto e dal reperto all'argilla, pp. 29-39).
2) G. Olcese, Il contributo delle analisi di laboratorio allo studio e alla classificazione della ceramica in archeologia, in: Acte du 8° Congrès SIMCER (Simposio Internazionale della Ceramica) "Archeometria della ceramica: problemi di metodo", (Rimini, 10-12 novembre 1992), Bologna 1993, pp. 35-53.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral exam. Preparation of a paper regarding the seminary.
L-ANT/10 - METHODS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Olcese Gloria Angela
Professor(s)