73761 - Late Ancient and Medieval Archaeology

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course students know the most important and the newest historical-archaeological and artistic frameworks of history, archaeology and artistic culture (architecture, excavations, sculptures, iconographical and stylistic features) from the 5th-6th century to the 12th century.

Course contents

This course has two parts, one general and one monographic, addressed by the lecturers within both modules. It will include:

• 16 hrs of in-class lecture in which the forms of settlement  between Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages will be addressed (with particular regard to the encastellation), discussing the historiographical debate;
• 40 hours of on-site teaching at the site of Rontana castle  (8 hours a day for five days): teaching will take place directly confronting the archaeological evidence (from the masonry to  stratigraphy) and practical activities, including excavation, survey, and study of the finds.

This  formula experimented from a.y. 2022-2023 allows students to benefit from a unique experience, which cannot overlap with other courses, and to achieve teaching and training objectives easily and effectively.
The course is linked to the lecturers' research and includes the possibility for students to participate in archaeological excavations and the study of artefacts from the Late Antique and Medieval contexts.

Readings/Bibliography

General introduction (for all students):

Enrico Cirelli, Archeologia e cultura materiale nel medioevo, BUP, Bologna, 2020.

Recomended readings (mandatory for non-attending students):

Lorenzo Tanzini e Francesco Paolo Tosco, Un Medioevo mediterraneo, Carocci editore, Roma, 2020.

Monographic course: Castles in Medieval Italy (for all students):

Aldo Settia, Castelli medievali, il Mulino, Bologna, 2017.

Recomended readings (mandatory for non-attending students):

Enrico Cirelli, Debora Ferreri, Vivere e morire nel castello di Rontana. Lo sfruttamento del gesso in un castello di fondazione medievale, in Lo sfruttamento del gesso in un insediamento di fondazione medievale nella vallata del Lamone, in LUCCI S., PIASTRA S. (a cura di), I gessi di Brisighella e Rontana, Memorie dell’Istituto Italiano di Speleologia s. II, 28, pp. 545-568.

(https://www.academia.edu/13437275/VIVERE_E_MORIRE_NEL_CASTELLO_DI_RONTANA._LO_SFRUTTAMENTO_DEL_GESSO_IN_UN_INSEDIAMENTO_DI_FONDAZIONE_MEDIEVALE_DELLA_VALLATA_DEL_LAMONE)

Debora Ferreri, Enrico Cirelli, Le trasformazioni della vallata del Lamone e dei passi Appenninici tra Esarcato e Regno d’Italia nel Medioevo (VI-XII secolo), in Medioevo nelle valli. Insediamento, società, economia nei comprensori di valle tra Alpi e Appennini, a cura di Federico Marazzi e Chiara Raimondo, Volturnia edizioni, 2019, pp. 101-117.

Teaching methods

The course is structured in frontal lessons, on site work,  direct examination of the archaeodogical evidence and discussion of the data. Study of the finds (in the laboratory) will also be offered. 

Assessment methods

The final examination will verify the fulfillment of the following learning objectives:

• knowledge of the topics and of the critical methodology discussed in class or studied in the literature;
• ability to use critical tools when examining a given image;
• ability to understand one's own critical opinion in relation to the historiographical debate. This ability is based on the assumption that our critical opinion is inevitably conditioned by our cultural views.

The exam will be exclusively in the form of an oral examination, which is evaluated in %30. It will be based on the images discussed in the books provided in the reading list or in class. Students should identify the works of art, demonstrate an understanding of their chronological, geographical and historical context, discuss their relationship with other works of art. For this reason, students are expected to bring their own books on the day of the exam.

Following the Alma Mater's guidelines, notably:

• the demonstration of an organic vision of the themes addressed in class or in books indicated in the reading list as well as of the critical use, command of oral expression and specific vocabulary, will be assessed with marks of excellence (28-30).
• mechanical and/or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, scarce ability of synthesis and analysis and/or the use of a correct but not always appropriate vocabulary will lead to discrete assessments (23-27).
• training gaps and/or inappropriate vocabulary - even in conjunction with a minimal knowledge of the subject - will lead to marks that will not exceed the minimum grade (18-22).
• training gaps, inappropriate vocabulary, lack of command of the bibliography discussed within the course will lead to negative evaluations.

Teaching tools

During the lesson, archaeological contexts and themes will be presented through simple slides and with handouts that are available to non-attendants on Virtuale.unibo.it.

Students who are affected by learning disability (DSA) and in need of special strategies to compensate it, are kindly requested to contact the Teacher, in order to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions.

Office hours

See the website of Maria Cristina Carile

See the website of Debora Ferreri