MEDITERRANEAN ARCHAEOLOGY

Mediterranean Archaeology is a 6-CFU class of the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Italian and Mediterranean Studies and Conservation of Cultural Heritage and Performing Arts Management

The course is designed to offer students an introduction to the 'deep history' of the Mediterranean world through the analysis of the material culture and the built environment of its ancient inhabitants.

The main goals of the course are the following:
● to familiarise students with key concepts, terms, fields of research, and methodologies of Mediterranean Archaeology;
● to provide students with an introductory knowledge of the main archaeological sequences and cultural developments of the Mediterranean world from the Palaeolithic to the Roman period;
● to critically engage with archaeological contexts, sites, and artefacts representative of ancient Mediterranean cultural practices and societal transformations.

Students can expect the following learning outcomes:

● to know and understand key developments of Mediterranean societies, their organisation, their material culture, and their relationship to the landscape
● to be able to situate emblematic ancient sites, artifacts and cultural phases in space and in time
● to be able to reflect on the relationship between ancient material remains and their social background
● to appreciate an archaeological find beyond its ‘aesthetic’ merit, but also as a valuable testimony of historically and culturally specific socio-economic contexts
● to be able to illustrate and explain in written form one’s knowledge as to the course topics and contents, and to do so with appropriate technical vocabulary, clarity of expression, and in-depth analysis

Fluency in English, written and oral.

The course provides students with an introduction to the study of Mediterranean societies through their material remains.
It focuses on the societal, technological and artistic developments that occurred across the Mediterranean from the Palaeolithic to the Roman Imperial age.
In doing so, the course selectively highlights environmental, economic, and technological aspects crucial to understanding the archaeological phenomena addressed during the course.
To situate students’ understanding of such phenomena, selected case studies from highly relevant archaeological sites will be presented, thus allowing a deeper appreciation of the ancient world and the evolution of its landscape over time.

C. Broodbank, The Making of the Middle Sea: A History of the Mediterranean from the Beginning to the Emergence of the Classical World (Thames & Hudson, 2013).

Written exam. The exam paper will consist of 20 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). The exam will last 45–60 minutes. Each correct answer will be awarded 1 point. Incorrect and omitted answers will be awarded 0 points.

In order to compensate for the possibility of guessing, the minimum threshold for a passing grade is set above 50%. A score of 12 correct answers out of 20 represents the minimum threshold for a passing grade of 18/30. Scores below 12 will result in a failing grade.

The total raw score will be converted into a final grade on a 30-point scale according to the following conversion table:

20 = 30L
19 = 30
18 = 29
17 = 28
16 = 27
15 = 26
14 = 24
13 = 21
12 = 18
below 12 = Fail

written

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

18–20/30: Sufficient. The student demonstrates a basic and partially secure understanding of the course contents, with limited ability to connect concepts and apply them independently.
21–23/30: Fair. The student demonstrates an adequate understanding of the main course contents and is able to recognize and apply key concepts, although with some limitations or inaccuracies.
24–26/30: Good. The student demonstrates a solid understanding of the course contents, with good ability to identify, connect, and apply the main concepts addressed in the course.
27–29/30: Very good. The student demonstrates a thorough and well-structured understanding of the course contents, with very good ability to connect concepts, interpret materials, and apply knowledge critically.
30/30: Excellent. The student demonstrates an excellent command of the course contents, with strong analytical ability, precision, and autonomy in interpreting and connecting the topics covered.
30L: Excellent with distinction. The student demonstrates outstanding command of the course contents, exceptional precision, critical awareness, and the ability to make sophisticated connections across the topics addressed in the course.

The course will be based on lectures combined with moments of critical discussion and active student participation. Lectures will provide the historical, theoretical, and methodological framework necessary to understand the topics addressed in class. These lectures will be regularly interspersed with critical discussions based on Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), encouraging students to observe, describe, interpret, and discuss visual materials in a structured and collaborative way.

In addition, short in-class reading assignments will be used to promote close engagement with selected texts and to foster the students’ ability to identify key arguments, concepts, and methodological issues. This combination of lectures, visual analysis, discussion, and guided reading activities is intended to support both the acquisition of core knowledge and the development of critical and interpretive skills.