LATE MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLGY

The course is part of the archaeology group courses and is part of the area of ​​medieval archaeology, such as Medieval Archaeology sp., Medieval Topography and Late Ancient and Early Medieval Archaeology, integrating and completing the students' knowledge, deepening specific themes from time to time.
For the academic year 2020/2021, the course will be a moment of advanced training in the use of archaeological sources for the study of the Modern Era. In particular, the role that objects can play in the construction of a historical interpretation will be analyzed, considering objects as a product of manufacturing, an index of economic relations, and, finally, as a manifestation of social dynamics in their context of use.

Expected results
Attendance and active participation in the activities (lectures, thematic in-depth seminars, laboratory) and individual study will allow:

1. Knowledge and understanding
- research methodologies applied to the study of material culture in the medieval context
- main classes of materials used in medieval archaeology research
- geography and chronological classification of the main material types

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
- how to frame classes and types of materials chronologically, with particular reference to glass and ceramics
- how to conduct an analysis of intra and inter-site exchanges

3. Judgment skills
- how to formulate hypotheses and argue dynamics of development and diffusion of objects and ideas
- develop a critical approach to the evaluation of alternative hypotheses.

4. Communication skills
- To be able to describe objects and related ideas with technical language, appropriate terminology and in a critical way.

5. Learning skills
- Knowing how to critically consult the bibliographic tools useful for dealing with in-depth studies and sector studies.

Medieval Archaeology and Medieval and Modern History

The course will present an updated and synthetic overview of the main archaeological research addresses on modern centuries in a global context.
The theoretical approach to different problems will also be highlighted.
Part of the course will be dedicated to the archaeology of production in the modern era (ceramics, glass).
Some classes will take place at the Medieval Archeology Laboratory, if possible.
In the final part of the course there will be guided visits to museum collections in the surrounding area, based on the availability and interests of the students.
These modules will be addressed:
- Introduction to the discipline
- Case studies
- Thematic insights

Gelichi, S., 2011. La cultura materiale, in: Riccardo Francovich e i Grandi Temi Del Dibattito Europeo. pp. 27–32.
Holtorf, C., 2002. Notes on the life history of a pot sherd. Journal of Material Culture 7, 49–71.
Archeologia Postmedievale: l’esperienza europea e l’Italia, Atti del Convegno Internazionale di Studi, Sassari, 17-20 Ottobre 1994, “Archeologia Postmedievale”, I (1997), pp. 13-25 .
Constructing post-medieval archaeology in Italy: a new agenda, Venezia, 24-25 Novembre 2006, a cura di Sauro Gelichi e Mauro Librenti.
M. JOHNSON, An Archaeology of Capitalism, Oxford, 1996.

There will be two complementary ways of exam.
During the course, one or two short papers will be assigned (to be uploaded to the e-learning platform).
At the end of the course, an oral exam will discuss the short papers with some open questions about acquisition of the fundamental knowledge of the discipline and to test the argumentative capacity and the scientific lexicon.
The final grade is given by the evaluation of the participation during classes, the evaluation of the short papers and the skills demonstrated during the oral exam.

Non-attending students are invited to agree on the exam program with the teacher.

Articles and materials discussed during classes will be available in Moodle.
Active participation during the course is recommended.
Frontal classes and seminars (oral presentation in turn, participation in class discussion).
Seminar lessons at the Medieval Archeology Laboratory.
Visits to some exhibitions, to be agreed at the beginning of the course based on the interests of the students.

Italian

Please, contact the teacher for further info on supplementary activities of the Medieval Archeology Laboratory (excavations, study of materials).

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