EPIGRAPHIC MATERIALS CATALOGUING METHODS

The course falls among the related and supplementary activities of the Master's degrees in Archival and Library Science and History from the Middle Ages to the contemporary age. It aims to enable students to critically analyze epigraphic sources, with particular attention to the medieval ones (7th-15th centuries).
The course aims to ensure the development of specific methodological skills in the field of cataloguing, but also in terms of processing and interpreting information to reconstruct cultural, social, and spatial contexts that are now fragmented. The aim is to ensure the in-depth study of the most up-to-date methods of describing inscriptions while keeping sight of the informative potential of the data obtained from their palaeographical, material and historical analysis.
Such an approach ensures the achievement of the educational objectives, especially regarding scientific skills in the treatment and communication of documentary materials.

1. Knowledge and understanding
- Knowledge of the main medieval epigraphic types;
- Knowledge of the epigraphic terminology;
- Learning the methods of analysis and analytical description of epigraphic evidence;
- Recognition and analysis of epigraphic media;
- Learning the methods of analysis of extemporaneous inscriptions.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
- Skill in the use of epigraphic cataloguing methods;
- Ability to place epigraphic evidence in its relevant historical and cultural context;
- Ability to derive socio-cultural information from textual, material and palaeographic analysis of inscriptions;
- Ability to process epigraphic data for the reconstruction of spatial and monumental contexts;

3. Judgment skills
- Know how to formulate and argue hypotheses for historical and chronological contextualization of inscriptions.

4. Communication skills.
- Know how to devise strategies and techniques for interpreting and communicating research results, including to the general public.

A good knowledge of medieval history and basic knowledge of Latin language is preferable.

COURSE TITLE: From Description to Interpretation. Epigraphic cataloguing as a starting point for reconstructive investigations.

The course aims to initiate students into the description, reading, dating and interpretation of epigraphs, enabling them to understand the potential of global and interdisciplinary analysis of inscribed evidence for reconstructive investigation. Following the current orientations in the field of analytical description of medieval inscriptions, with particular attention to the experiences conducted within the Inscriptiones Medii Aevi Italiae project (saec. VI-XII), the following aspects will be investigated:

1. From matter to form. A particular focus will be on acquiring and interpreting material and palaeographical data. Through the discussion of specific cases, the opportunities that can arise from examining material, dimensional, and formal aspects for reconstructing the production processes and contexts of the original placement of inscriptions will be illustrated first. Secondly, the investigative potential offered by palaeographical analysis, through which it is possible to obtain information on the social and cultural background of writers and patrons and the dynamics of circulation of writings, things, and people, will be accounted for.
2. From text to context. Starting from the methods used for the description and critical edition of epigraphic texts, the documentary value of epigraphic sources will be discussed, especially to analyze socio-cultural phenomena.
3. From corpora to communication. This last teaching unit will explore the opportunities offered by WEB and digital tools for communicating results to the public. Moving through online databases and corpora, recent experiences in storytelling and dissemination will be illustrated, with particular attention to epigraphy.

- Materials available in the Moodle platform.
Mandatory texts:
- I. DI STEFANO MANZELLA, Mestiere di epigrafista. Guida alla schedatura del materiale epigrafico lapideo, Roma, Quasar, 1987.
- Part 1: F. DE RUBEIS, Scritture nazionali e aree culturali: le epigrafi fra forme, contenuti e trasmissioni testuali in Italia e nell'Europa altomedievale, in Post-Roman Transitions, Turnhout, Brepols, 2013, pp. 549-580; D. FERRAIUOLO, Nuovi spunti per una rilettura archeologica e paleografica delle epigrafi altomedievali di Montecassino, in Angelo Pantoni. Documenti epigrafici di Montecassino dal VI al XV secolo, a cura di M. Dell'Omo, D. Ferraiuolo, F. Marazzi, Abbazia di Montecassino, 2020, pp. 57-127.
- Part 2: O. BANTI, Epigrafi «documentarie», «chartae lapidariae» e documenti in senso proprio. Note di epigrafia e di diplomatica medievale, in "Studi medievali", serie III,
33 (1992), pp. 229-242.
- Part 3: G.M. ANNOSCIA, Alla 'ricerca della spazialità perduta' di alcune scritture esposte di committenza pontificia a Roma nel Basso Medioevo, in La dimensione spaziale della scrittura esposta in età medievale. Discipline a confronto, Atti del Convegno di Studi (Napoli,14-16 dicembre 2020), a cura di D. Ferraiuolo, Spoleto, Fondazione CISAM, 2022, pp. 189-205.

*Non-attending students should agree with the professor on the exam program.

The final examination consists of an oral discussion designed to verify the student's learning of the main methods of cataloguing and analytical description of inscriptions. Through critical discussion of the cases addressed during the course, the student must show that he or she has also acquired skills in interpreting and processing epigraphic data for their historical, cultural and spatial contextualization.

The course involves interaction between the professor and students. Beyond the lectures, conducted with the help of PPT projections and graphic/photographic material, activities of commentary, reading and interpretation of epigraphic documents and contexts will be carried out.

Italian

Reference texts are available at the BAUM library or can be found online.

oral

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