CLASSIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF ANTIQUE POTTERY

Academic year
2018/2019 Syllabus of previous years
Official course title
ANALISI E CLASSIFICAZIONE DELLE CERAMICHE ANTICHE SP.
Course code
FM0001 (AF:274081 AR:161342)
Modality
On campus classes
ECTS credits
6
Degree level
Master's Degree Programme (DM270)
Educational sector code
L-ANT/10
Period
4th Term
Where
VENEZIA
The teaching falls within the integrative training activities of the Master degree in Ancient Civilisations: Literature, History and Archaeology: it allows the student to acquire the knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and methodological fundamentals necessary for the study of ancient ceramics, and aims to offer a reflection on the state of art, the tools and aims of current research. The aim of the course is to develop the capacity for analysis and critical re-elaboration of information in relation to the methodological approaches used, to stimulate the ability to manage and manipulate complex data, and to stimulate the development of interdisciplinary research paths.
1. Knowledge and understanding
● To know the theoretical and methodological foundations of the classification process of ancient ceramics.
● Know the main methods used in the study and analysis of ceramics in archeology (dating, quantification, archaeometric analysis, distribution studies, multivariate analysis and IT applications, etc.).
● To be able to understand and evaluate the results (i.e. interpretations) of theories and methods applied to the practice evaluating the results obtained also in relation to the methodologies adopted and the research objectives.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
● Being able to distinguish the specificities, limits and potential of the different principles and methods of classifications used in the study of ancient ceramics.
● Know how to evaluate the information potential of ceramic fragments and establish the most appropriate methods of analysis and data processing in relation to research objectives.
● Knowing how to apply the acquired methodological knowledge to manage and manipulate complex data and to elaborate, even autonomously, interdisciplinary research paths in the ceramological field.

3. Ability to judge
● Develop the ability to develop a critical approach to the evaluation of interpretative syntheses based on ceramological data.

4. Communication skills
● To know how to communicate their methodological reflections starting from a concrete case study, using appropriate terminology, also knowing how to interact in debates and in moments of group discussion in the classroom.

5. Learning skills
● Knowing how to take notes and share them in a collaborative way.
● Knowing how to critically consult the reference texts and the bibliography contained in them.
Having achieved the training goals the course of METHODOLOGY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH (B.A. degree) even without necessarily having passed the examination of this course. It is also necessary to understand the written English language in order to understand the texts that the teacher will use in class.
a) A brief history of ceramic studies
b) Potential of ceramic finds in archeology. Reuse and multi-functionality of ancient ceramics
c) Classification, dating and quantification of ancient ceramics
d) The characterization studies, the ceramic technology and the determination of the properties of ancient ceramics: the archaeometric analyzes. Methods and potential; the study of interaction: production centers, consumption centers, models of exchange and production
e) Ceramics and content. The analysis of residues: methods and potential
f) Distribution studies, IT applications and multivariate analysis in the study of ancient ceramics
g) Exercises in the classroom for reading and analyzing scientific texts related to ancient ceramics. Discussions in the classroom on research approaches, methods and objectives

There is NOT a program for non-attending students.
Mandatory texts
C.ORTON, P.TYERS, A.VINCE, Pottery in Archaeology, Cambridge 2013.

Integrative reading
N.CUOMO DI CAPRIO, Ceramica in archeologia 2: antiche tecniche di lavorazione e moderni metodi di indagine, L'Erma" di Bretschneider, Roma 2007 (solo le parti indicate a lezione).

Further readings will be recommended in class.
The verification of learning takes place through an oral test. During the test the student must demonstrate knowledge of the topics developed during the course, to know how to expose them in a way
formal and to have acquired the ability to correlate research approaches and methodologies in order to arrive from the archaeological data (= the informative potential) to its interpretation
(= reconstruction of processes). Critical and argumentative ability will also be evaluated. The questions will be wide-ranging to allow widespread, complex and complex discussions. The student will also have to choose an edited research work to be used in the classroom discussions and then, during the exam, as a specific case study to be critically analyzed, especially in terms of the relationship methodologies adopted - research objectives - objectives achieved
The course is organized in:
a) lectures with the aid of power point presentations;
b) interactive lectures and classroom discussion on selected topics where the students will have to discuss, analyze and report results achieved in the classroom;
c) teaching material available on the moodle.unive.it e-learning platform. to supplement the notes taken in the classroom.
Italian
I) During the whole academic year the classical archeology laboratory connected to teaching (http://virgo.unive.it/archeolab/index.php?it/451/archeologia-classica-i ) offers various opportunities for practical activities processing and manipulation of data in the post-excavation phase, management and computerized processing of archaeological data, documentation and study of finds. Schedules are flexible.
2) Between January and September there will be seminars aimed at implementing the technical-practical skills, specifically aimed at building the profession of the archaeologist, enriching the preparation and competence. These are closed-ended seminars on the recognition, filing, design and computerized processing of ceramics, which include lectures accompanied by practical exercises. For pre-enrollment contact the teacher by e-mail by December 2018.
3) Between May and June 2019 an excavation is planned on the site of Aquileia Roman port - eastern shore with a limited number (http://www.unive.it/pag/32776/ ). To participate in the excavation it is necessary to have obtained the certificate of the safety course, to have a tetanus coverage and to have a medical certificate of good health. For pre-enrollment contact the teacher by e-mail by December 2018.
4) Dissertations: IN ADDITION TOPICS proposed by students, the course offers dissertations linked to the teacher's ongoing research projects and related to the archeology of production, the interaction between man and the environment in ancient times, excavations in progress at Aquileia and aspects of studies of artefacs. Also available dissertations in physical anthropology, using the data related to the study project of the necropolis of Piazza Corrubbio in Verona and the relative findings (human bones, ceramics, glass, metals).
oral

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

Definitive programme.
Last update of the programme: 07/05/2018