ID:
508790
Durata (ore):
36
CFU:
6
SSD:
METODOLOGIE DELLA RICERCA ARCHEOLOGICA
Anno:
2024
Dati Generali
Periodo di attività
Secondo Semestre (24/02/2025 - 15/05/2025)
Syllabus
Obiettivi Formativi
How do archaeologists reconstruct and interpret the past? How does archaeological research contribute to the broader study of the human species through time?
"Reconstructing the Past: Methods and Tools" is a graduate course designed to provide the student with an understanding of both theory and practice currently applied to archaeological science.
At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:
• Discuss the contributions of archaeology and related sub-fields to the study of human history;
• Critically understand the changing theoretical framework under which the past is interpreted;
• Explain the range of field methods used in archaeology to investigate the human past;
• Identify a variety of categories of archaeological data and assess how they have been processed and used to understand the human past;
• Identify the major techniques used to date objects from the past, including the circumstances under which they can be used and the limitations inherent in each technique;
• Evaluate the interplay between research questions, theories, materials and methods, and data, and how to disseminate and popularise the results.
"Reconstructing the Past: Methods and Tools" is a graduate course designed to provide the student with an understanding of both theory and practice currently applied to archaeological science.
At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:
• Discuss the contributions of archaeology and related sub-fields to the study of human history;
• Critically understand the changing theoretical framework under which the past is interpreted;
• Explain the range of field methods used in archaeology to investigate the human past;
• Identify a variety of categories of archaeological data and assess how they have been processed and used to understand the human past;
• Identify the major techniques used to date objects from the past, including the circumstances under which they can be used and the limitations inherent in each technique;
• Evaluate the interplay between research questions, theories, materials and methods, and data, and how to disseminate and popularise the results.
Prerequisiti
To better follow the course, a basic knowledge of world geography and history is suggested.
Metodi didattici
The structure of this course includes both lecture and seminar components.
You are required to attend scheduled classes, and to participate in seminar discussions and class exercises and technical demonstrations. Full and actively class participation will contribute to the final grade.
Students must carefully and critically read the assigned texts and contribute regularly to seminar discussions with incisive and articulate commentary in verbal and written form. In addition, you will be expected to develop your own case study project.
Frontal lessons will be around 90-100 minutes long, with the use of MS PowerPoint and occasional videos.
Student-Led classroom discussions: You are encouraged to discuss the main topics or particular aspects at the end of each lesson. You will be also encouraged to discuss in class the selected case-studies, in order to choose and prepare the final research project outline or the short research paper.
Class presentations: You will be required to perform a group-based research on a specific site, location or monument of ancient Pavia, and to perform a public presentation to the class, on-site.
You are all expected to participate by attending the presentations of your colleagues and actively engaging in discussion of results.
You are required to attend scheduled classes, and to participate in seminar discussions and class exercises and technical demonstrations. Full and actively class participation will contribute to the final grade.
Students must carefully and critically read the assigned texts and contribute regularly to seminar discussions with incisive and articulate commentary in verbal and written form. In addition, you will be expected to develop your own case study project.
Frontal lessons will be around 90-100 minutes long, with the use of MS PowerPoint and occasional videos.
Student-Led classroom discussions: You are encouraged to discuss the main topics or particular aspects at the end of each lesson. You will be also encouraged to discuss in class the selected case-studies, in order to choose and prepare the final research project outline or the short research paper.
Class presentations: You will be required to perform a group-based research on a specific site, location or monument of ancient Pavia, and to perform a public presentation to the class, on-site.
You are all expected to participate by attending the presentations of your colleagues and actively engaging in discussion of results.
Verifica Apprendimento
To receive the 6 credits for Reconstructing the Past, students must complete:
• a final oral examination.
• a final oral examination.
Testi
Required main textbook:
Renfrew, C. and Bahn, P. 2015. Archeology Essentials. Theories, Methods, Practice. Thames & Hudson Ltd, London.
Optional textbook for those new to archaeology:
Bahn, P. 2012. Archaeology: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. (suggested)
One text to be chosen among the following additional textbooks:
On archaeological theory:
Johnson, M. 2020. Archaeological Theory: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell (3rd edition).
Trigger, B. G. 2006. A History of Archaeological Thought. Cambridge University Press.
On excavation techniques:
Collis, J. 2010. Digging up the Past. An introduction to archaeological excavation. The History Press.
On archaeometry:
Pollard A. M., Armitage R. A., Makarewicz C.A. (eds), Handbook of Archaeological Sciences. 2nd edition. Oxford 2023. Selected chapters indicated in class.
On funerary archaeology:
Parker Pearson, M. 2009. The Archaeology of Death and Burial. The History Press.
On public archaeology:
Moshenska, G. 2017 (ed.). Key Concepts in Public Archaeology. UCL Press, London.
Renfrew, C. and Bahn, P. 2015. Archeology Essentials. Theories, Methods, Practice. Thames & Hudson Ltd, London.
Optional textbook for those new to archaeology:
Bahn, P. 2012. Archaeology: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. (suggested)
One text to be chosen among the following additional textbooks:
On archaeological theory:
Johnson, M. 2020. Archaeological Theory: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell (3rd edition).
Trigger, B. G. 2006. A History of Archaeological Thought. Cambridge University Press.
On excavation techniques:
Collis, J. 2010. Digging up the Past. An introduction to archaeological excavation. The History Press.
On archaeometry:
Pollard A. M., Armitage R. A., Makarewicz C.A. (eds), Handbook of Archaeological Sciences. 2nd edition. Oxford 2023. Selected chapters indicated in class.
On funerary archaeology:
Parker Pearson, M. 2009. The Archaeology of Death and Burial. The History Press.
On public archaeology:
Moshenska, G. 2017 (ed.). Key Concepts in Public Archaeology. UCL Press, London.
Contenuti
The course is divided into 10 Units, each of which examines a specific topic in archaeological theory and methods:
1 – Introduction. What on earth is Archaeology?
2 – The Idea of Human Antiquity (from Antiquarianism to Positivism)
3 – The ‘Long Sleep’ (Racism and Culture History)
4 – Principles of Archaeological Theory (1960 – present)
5 – Research Design: Strategies, Funding, and Stakeholders
6 – Excavation Methods: Stratigraphy, Planning, Recording, Processing
7 – Material Culture: Quantification, Typology and Chronology
8 – Scientific Analyses: Dating and Characterisation of Materials
9 – Funerary Archaeology: What the dead can tell us
10 – Interpreting the Past: Anthropology, Ethnoarchaeology, Experimental archaeology
For a basic understanding of archaeological theory, we will critically address the historical development of the theoretical aspects of the discipline of archaeology, from the Antiquarians of the 18th century, through the 19th century main breakthroughs (U2) and the culture-history paradigm (U3), to an introduction to the second half of the 20th century (processualism, post-processualism) and contemporary theoretical trends (U4).
The second part of the course concerns the aims and methods of archaeological research. We will see how (and why!) to design and organise an excavation, a fieldwork (even an armchair study) (U5), addressing the most relevant methods, including the study of site formation process, stratigraphy, site planning, finds recording and handling, and data processing (U6).
Since a key focus of archaeological research is on material culture, we will introduce you to the wide range of concepts and methods used in the analysis of archaeological material, including typology, chronology, and statistical analysis (U7).
Practical demonstrations are aimed at providing basic knowledge skills with common dating methods in archaeology. This includes examining the physical and chemical processes that allow for both radiocarbon dating, luminescence dating, and dendrochronology (U8).
Another central topic is related to how past societies responded to and treated their dead, providing archaeologists with crucial insights (U9).
The course culminates in a practical and integrative project (a research proposal, or a short research paper) that demonstrates the understanding of how to apply methods and skills derived from different archaeological disciplines and theoretical approaches, to address particular research questions (U10).
1 – Introduction. What on earth is Archaeology?
2 – The Idea of Human Antiquity (from Antiquarianism to Positivism)
3 – The ‘Long Sleep’ (Racism and Culture History)
4 – Principles of Archaeological Theory (1960 – present)
5 – Research Design: Strategies, Funding, and Stakeholders
6 – Excavation Methods: Stratigraphy, Planning, Recording, Processing
7 – Material Culture: Quantification, Typology and Chronology
8 – Scientific Analyses: Dating and Characterisation of Materials
9 – Funerary Archaeology: What the dead can tell us
10 – Interpreting the Past: Anthropology, Ethnoarchaeology, Experimental archaeology
For a basic understanding of archaeological theory, we will critically address the historical development of the theoretical aspects of the discipline of archaeology, from the Antiquarians of the 18th century, through the 19th century main breakthroughs (U2) and the culture-history paradigm (U3), to an introduction to the second half of the 20th century (processualism, post-processualism) and contemporary theoretical trends (U4).
The second part of the course concerns the aims and methods of archaeological research. We will see how (and why!) to design and organise an excavation, a fieldwork (even an armchair study) (U5), addressing the most relevant methods, including the study of site formation process, stratigraphy, site planning, finds recording and handling, and data processing (U6).
Since a key focus of archaeological research is on material culture, we will introduce you to the wide range of concepts and methods used in the analysis of archaeological material, including typology, chronology, and statistical analysis (U7).
Practical demonstrations are aimed at providing basic knowledge skills with common dating methods in archaeology. This includes examining the physical and chemical processes that allow for both radiocarbon dating, luminescence dating, and dendrochronology (U8).
Another central topic is related to how past societies responded to and treated their dead, providing archaeologists with crucial insights (U9).
The course culminates in a practical and integrative project (a research proposal, or a short research paper) that demonstrates the understanding of how to apply methods and skills derived from different archaeological disciplines and theoretical approaches, to address particular research questions (U10).
Lingua Insegnamento
INGLESE
Altre informazioni
For any question or doubt, write to: paolo.rondini@unipv.it or mariaemanuela.oddo@unipv.it
Corsi
Corsi
THE ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN WORLD. HISTORY, ARCHAEOLOGY AND ART
Laurea Magistrale
2 anni
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