90281 - Italic and Celtic Archaeology (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will learn the general lines on the formation and development of the peoples of Preroman Italy, also with reference to mutual processes of cultural integration; he will thus develop the ability to carry out research on the subject, thanks to the use of the specific methods and tools of the discipline, and the ability to communicate the results of such research both in oral and written form. The student will be able to critically insert the archaeological documentation and the literary and epigraphic sources in their respective social, economic and political contexts; he will also be able to insert these documents in the framework of the history of the Italic peoples and of the presence and spread of the Celtic culture in Italy, also in light of the relations with the transalpine area.

Course contents

This course examines the archaeology of the Italian Peninsula during the Iron Age from both historical and archaeological perspectives. It critically explores issues of ethnic and cultural identities (starting from the concepts of Italic and Celtic), the differentiated development of settlement patterns, funerary practices, the mobility of individuals and communities, and the commercial and cultural interactions between the Mediterranean and transalpine worlds.

Lecture 1 will introduce the course syllabus, assessment methods, and the principal methodological approaches adopted throughout the course.

Lectures 2–3 will focus on theoretical issues, including the concepts of identity and ethnos and their anthropological implications, examined through both written and archaeological sources.

Lectures 4–15 will examine the archaeological cultures of northern, central, and southern Italy and their relationship with the linguistic groups and historical peoples described in the ancient literary sources. Covering the period from the ninth century BC to the incorporation of the different communities into the Roman sphere, the course will investigate the historical processes that shaped the diverse cultural trajectories of ancient Italy. Particular attention will be devoted to the Greek colonisation of southern Italy (eighth–sixth centuries BC), the transformations of southern Italy following the expansion of the Campanians, Samnites, Lucanians, and Bruttians (fifth–fourth centuries BC), and the historical Celtic migrations of the fourth century BC, critically assessing their relationship with the archaeological evidence. The course will also provide a concise overview of the First and Second Iron Age in continental Europe, with particular reference to the Hallstatt and La Tène cultural horizons.

For attending students, seminars based on selected examination readings will be held during Lectures 4, 7, 10, and 13. In addition, visits to local and national archaeological museums will be organised outside regular class hours.

Important: The course has no formal prerequisites. However, students are strongly encouraged to attend Professor Elisabetta Govi's course in Etruscology, which provides an important complementary perspective on several topics discussed in this course. A basic knowledge of the geography of Italy and Europe is also recommended.

Readings/Bibliography

For attending students:

In addition to the notes taken during the lectures, the following texts are required for the exam:

F. Pesando (ed.), L'Italia antica. Culture e forme del popolamento nel I millennio a.C., Carocci, Rome, 2005 (and subsequent reprints), excluding Chapters 3.1 and 4.2.7–4.2.38.

On the concept of "Italic":

M. Pallottino, Sul concetto di storia italica, in L’Italie préromaine et la Rome républicaine. Mélanges offerts à Jacques Heurgon, Vol. I, Rome, 1976, pp. 771–789.

On the concept of "Celtic":

J. Collis, Celts. Art and Identity, in F. Saccoccio, E. Vecchi (eds.), Who Do You Think You Are? Ethnicity in the Iron Age Mediterranean, London, 2022, pp. 9–20.

On epigraphic practice:

M. Lejeune, D. Briquel, Lingue e scritture, in Italia omnium terrarum parens, pp. 432–474.

On institutions:

S. Bourdin, Popoli e leghe nell’Italia preromana, in R. Fiori (ed.), Re e popolo. Istituzioni arcaiche tra storia e comparazione, Göttingen, 2019, pp. 275–300.

IMPORTANT: The four articles will be the subject of in-depth discussion during four course sessions (Lectures 4, 7, 10, and 13). All texts will be available on VIRTUALE.

Additional readings on specific topics may be assigned during the course. These will not be included in the examination.

For non-attending students:

In addition to the texts required for attending students, the examination will also cover the following textbook:

A.M. Bietti Sestieri, L'Italia nell'età del bronzo e del ferro. Dalle palafitte a Romolo (2200–700 a.C.), Carocci Editore, 2nd edition, 2018, pp. 171–348.

Two additional readings on specific topics must be agreed upon with the instructor.

The volumes are available at the Archaeology Library of the Department of History and Cultures (Dipartimento di Storia Culture Civiltà).

Teaching methods

The course consists primarily of lectures, and regular attendance is strongly recommended. During the semester, visits to local museums will be organised, relevant guest lectures and academic seminars will be announced, and additional readings for further study will be recommended.

Classes follow the University's standard academic quarter-hour convention, unless otherwise agreed during the introductory lecture.

Students who wish to complement the course with practical training may participate in the laboratory activities offered by the Department of History and Cultures. These include opportunities to gain fieldwork experience through archaeological excavations at the Etruscan cities of Kainua (Marzabotto) and Spina, as well as practical training in the study, cataloguing, and archaeological drawing of artefacts.

Students are encouraged to consult the instructor's webpage regularly for updates on these and other educational opportunities offered by the Department.

Assessment methods

Regular attendance will make it easier to successfully pass the examination. A student is considered attending if they participate in at least 75% of the classes.

The examination is oral. It consists of three general questions, which serve as the starting point for a progressively more focused and detailed discussion of specific topics covered during the course, as well as the required readings listed in the bibliography. For attending students, active participation in the discussions scheduled throughout the course will allow the reduction of the compulsory readings to the textbook only.

The purpose of the oral examination is to assess the student's ability to apply their knowledge and to make the necessary logical and analytical connections.

 

Final grading criteria:

• Preparation covering only a very limited number of topics addressed during the course; analytical ability demonstrated only with the instructor's guidance; overall correct use of language → 18–19.
• Preparation covering a limited number of topics addressed during the course; ability to carry out independent analysis only on straightforward issues; correct use of language → 20–24.
• Preparation covering a broad range of topics addressed during the course; ability to make independent critical judgments; sound command of the appropriate disciplinary terminology → 25–29.
• Thorough and comprehensive preparation on the topics addressed during the course; ability to make independent critical judgments and establish connections between topics; full command of the appropriate disciplinary terminology, together with strong argumentation and self-reflective skills → 30–30 with Honors (30L).
  
  

Examination schedule:

For 2027, examination sessions are scheduled in June, July, October, and November.

 

Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or temporary or permanent disabilities: see Teaching tools.

 

International students: see Teaching tools. 

 

Academic integrity and the use of Artificial Intelligence

With regard to assessment, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)—including for the simple summarization of assigned readings—is strictly prohibited. Any use of AI constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

Throughout the course, lectures will be supported by presentations featuring images of archaeological materials and sites that illustrate the topics under discussion. Each lecture will be accompanied by presentation slides containing an extensive visual repertoire, which will subsequently be made available to students through the University's VIRTUALE e-learning platform.

Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or temporary or permanent disabilities: Students are strongly encouraged to contact the University's dedicated support office in good time (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it ). The office will propose any appropriate accommodations for eligible students. Such accommodations must be submitted to the course instructor for approval at least 15 days in advance. The instructor will evaluate their suitability in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

International students: International students will be supported throughout the course and in preparing for the examination through individual meetings with the instructor and the provision of bibliography in foreign languages. Students are encouraged to communicate any specific needs at the beginning of the course or by contacting the instructor via email.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Gaucci