Teaching workshop: pottery in archaeology: from sherd to history
A.A. 2024/2025
Obiettivi formativi
The workshop aims to provide students with a background of general knowledge on pottery-making, describing the manufacturing process from raw materials through to firing. As pottery is the commonest archaeological artefact from the Neolithic onwards, it is closely tied up with human development and thus it can be considered as the connective tissue of the ancient societies. The historical focus is primarily on the Greco-Roman period, but attention is paid to the entire span of pre-modern history. The workshop also aims to introduce students to modern laboratory techniques applied to ancient pottery which are relevant to studies of characterization and provenance.
Risultati apprendimento attesi
Knowledge: At the end of the workshop students gain in-depth knowledge on the complex manufacturing process of ancient pottery and can reconstruct the working practices used in antiquity, understanding why the soft and plastic clay turns into hard and solid ceramic. Students can also present a summary account of the analytical methods applied to ancient ceramics and the digital tools useful for study purposes.
Skills: At the end of the workshop students develop a basic competence in analysing ancient pottery and the ability to identify ancient working practices, focusing attention on technical issues. Students also have the skills to build a database for cataloguing ancient pottery and to choose the most appropriate modern laboratory techniques for investigating peculiar technical issues.
Skills: At the end of the workshop students develop a basic competence in analysing ancient pottery and the ability to identify ancient working practices, focusing attention on technical issues. Students also have the skills to build a database for cataloguing ancient pottery and to choose the most appropriate modern laboratory techniques for investigating peculiar technical issues.
Periodo: Primo semestre
Corso singolo
Questo insegnamento non può essere seguito come corso singolo. Puoi trovare gli insegnamenti disponibili consultando il catalogo corsi singoli.
Programma e organizzazione didattica
Edizione unica
Responsabile
Periodo
Primo semestre
Programma
The workshop offers an in-depth analysis of pottery's role in understanding ancient societies, as the studies on pottery in archaeology has grown in importance over the years, providing the archaeologists with information on many aspects of the past, including technology, chronology and trade. The workshop progressively illustrates pottery-making, from the shapeless mass of clay to the finished object, and attention is focused on the technical perspective. The following topics are covered, focusing on the Greco-Roman period: 1) the raw materials of ceramics; 2) the technological properties of clay and pottery; 3) the working of clay, from clay sourcing to processing and refining; 4) the modelling of clay and the coatings applied to vessels before firing; 5) the firing, from firing structures to the firing process. Modern laboratory techniques are also introduced, which are relevant to the analysis of pottery composition and provenance. The final section of the workshop focuses on cataloguing ancient pottery using digital tools.
Prerequisiti
There are no prerequisites for admission. However, for more effective and fruitful results, it is recommended to have already taken an archaeology exam and/or participated in an archaeological excavation.
Metodi didattici
Classes are online classes on TEAMS platform.
Materiale di riferimento
- Orton C., Tyers P., Vince A., "Pottery in Archaeology", Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology, Cambridge-New York 1993.
- Cuomo di Caprio N., "Ceramics in archaeology: from prehistoric to medieval times in Europe and the Mediterranean: ancient craftsmanship and modern laboratory techniques", L'Erma di Bretschneider, Roma 2017.
- Cuomo di Caprio N., "Ceramics in archaeology: from prehistoric to medieval times in Europe and the Mediterranean: ancient craftsmanship and modern laboratory techniques", L'Erma di Bretschneider, Roma 2017.
Modalità di verifica dell’apprendimento e criteri di valutazione
Students are assessed through assignments based on the achievement of the workshop's learning objectives. Attendance is mandatory (at least 90% of the hours).
Docente/i
Ricevimento:
Appuntamento da concordare via e-mail con la docente
Online_Teams: team "Topografia antica", CODICE: 7n92pfv