01062 - Topography of Ancient Italy

Learning outcomes

The aim of this teaching is to lead the students to understand the dynamics and the rules of landscape changes during times, as an important aspect of the history of peopling . This approach is essentially based on an idea of the landscape as a 'palinsesto', where it is possible to see the signs left by the relationships between man and environment during times. Starting from the comprehension of today's landscape, the student will be able to reconstruct the history of a country at a physiographical and human level. In order to do this step, students will be previously provided of all methodologies and tools necessary to build a reliable image of ancient land use and setting patterns. Among these instruments, we would mention cartography, remote sensed images and geomorphological rudiments necessary to understand the relationships between man and environment.

Course contents

During the first part, more general and methodological aspects, concerning landscape, environment and country, will be developed. Furthermore, the main tools necessaries for reconstructing ancient landscapes (cartography, aerial photography, toponymy, archaeology, etc.) will be provided. In particular, the student will be led to recognize the main geographic and geomorphological structures which have attracted the settlement during times. The second part will be devoted to make territorial analysis. The module will be completed by courses about the centuriation and ancient viability, about the relationship between geomorphology and settlement and about the water resources. Lessons: San Giovanni in Monte, Aula Gualandi, monday  15-17, tuesday12-14 thursday 13-15, beginning from 30/1/2012

Readings/Bibliography

P.L. Dall'Aglio (a cura di), La Topografia antica, ed. CLUEB, Bologna 2000

P.L. Dall'Aglio, Analisi del paesaggio e governo del territorio: il ruolo dello studio del passato, in "Notiziario dell'Archivio Osvaldo Piacentini", n.6, a.6, dicembre 2002, pp.5-9

M. Cremaschi, Manuale di geoarcheologia, ed. Laterza, Bari 2000, pp. 149-189; 291-318

A. Amorosi - R. Pignone (a cura di), La Pianura. Geologia, suoli e ambienti in Emilia Romagna, Bologna 2009 (ed. Pendragon), pp. 59-73; 81-105; 113-135; 145-169; 179-188. 

P.L. Dall'Aglio, Agiografia e topografia antica, in "Journal of Ancient Topography", vol.I 1991, pp. 57-70

G. Marchetti - P.L. Dall'Aglio, Geomorfologia e popolamento antico nel territorio piacentino. Parte II: antropizzazione ed evoluzione fisica del territorio, in Storia di Piacenza. Vol.I: dalle origini all'anno Mille, Milano 1990, pp. 604-670

P.L. Dall'Aglio Modificazioni nell'assetto urbano e territoriale in Emilia tra età romana e altomedioevo, in Castrum Sermionense. Società e cultura della "Cisalpina" nel primomedioevo, Brescia 1996, pp.81-102.

P.L. Dall'Aglio e I. Di Cocco (a cura di), La Linea e la rete. Formazione del sistema stradale in Emilia-Romagna , Milano 2006, pp. 26-80; 280-310

C. Franceschelli, Dynamiques de transmission de la morphologie agraire: 'pérennisation' 
et 'effacement' de la centuriation romaine dans la plaine sud du Po , in Agri Centuriati, vol. 5 2008, pp.77-105

L. Capogrossi Colognesi, Préface. Acque, terre e paesaggi umani nella storia di Roma, in Vers une gestion intégrée de l'eau dans l'empire romain, in Atlante tematico di Topografia antica, XVI supplemento, 2008, pp. 13-20

L. Cracco Ruggini, Terre e acque: città e campagne fra antichità e medioevo, in L'acqua nei secoli altomedievali, Spoleto, 12-17 aprile 2007, Spoleto 2008, pp.95-120

P.L. Dall'Aglio, Considerazioni sull'intervento di Marco Emilio Scauro nella pianura padana, in Interventi di bonifica agraria nell'Italia romana, Atlante Tematico di Topografia antica, vol. 4, 1995, pp.87-94

M. Dall'Aglio, I culti delle acque nell'Italia antica, Imola 2009 (Angelini editore)

 Dalla carta al paesaggio: atlante ragionato, ZetaBi editore, Firenze 2006

Teaching methods

The course will base on frontal lessons with the possibility to participate at excavations in the roman towns of Suasa and Ostra and at survey in Misa valley. In June a tour in the Trebbia valley will be organized with the Department of Earth Science of Pavia University

Assessment methods

The assessment of knowledges will consist in an oral examination. The student must prove to know the tools of Landscape archaeology and to be able to read a topographical map. The knowledge of the most important tools is considered the "condicio sine qua non" for the success of the test.

Teaching tools

slides, maps, etc

Links to further information

http://www3.unibo.it/Archeologia

Office hours

See the website of Pier Luigi Dall'Aglio