Giuseppe Sassatelli graduated from the University of Bologna in 1970 with a thesis in Etruscology and Italic Archeology. In 1976 he obtained the Diploma of Improvement in Archeology. After several years of research activity carried out with scholarships and fixed-term contracts, he was Researcher (from 1981 to 1987), Associate Professor (from 1987 to 1994) and then, from 1994 until his post-part placement (November 1, 2017) , Full Professor of Etruscology and Italian Antiquity at the University of Bologna.
Research activity
The research has been mainly dedicated to Etruria Padana in all its manifestations, from urban planning to writing, touching artisanal and artistic production and cultural and commercial relations with neighboring peoples.
Among the lines of his scientific research, the town planning and architecture of the Etruscan city of Marzabotto was of considerable importance, with particular reference to the architectural, domestic and sacred categories, inserted in a wider context of experiences gained in Tyrrhenian Etruria and Etruria Padana due to commercial and cultural contacts. These issues have been closely related to the novelties offered by the archaeological excavation for which he was responsible for many years.
Another important branch of his studies has been the reconstruction of the historical dynamics of the Etruscan presence in the Po Valley area, with important news on the modalities of this phenomenon, much more complex than the traditional concept of colonization; on relations with the neighboring realities of northern Italy; on the boundary of some territorial areas; on trade and cultural exchanges; on individual mobility between Etruria Padana and surrounding areas; on the role of the Etruscans in relations between the Mediterranean and Europe with particular regard to the Celts. The cultural dynamics of the Paduan Etruria also included another important research topic concerning the relationship with the Greek world and its influence on the formation of a local figurative language and on the funeral ideology.
A large part of his scientific activity was also dedicated to the topic of the spread of writing in the Po Valley area and in northern Italy, especially in its initial phases, to the implications of this phenomenon on the historical, social and cultural level, to its diffusion, through of the Etruscans, towards the other peoples of northern Italy. After the systematic studies on Marzabotto and Bologna, which led to the corpora edition, this research has more recently merged into a larger project that, launched in 2007 in collaboration with the CNR, will lead to the publication of new files of the prestigious Corpus Inscriptionum Etruscarum, edited by the Institute of Etruscan and Italic Studies and the Academy of Sciences of Berlin and Brandenburg, the first of which dedicated to Adria has just been published.
Another strand of his research activity concerned the history of studies and excavations on the double side of the recovery of many data on the philological plane and the relationship between the etruscological discipline and the history of ideas and culture, as well as with the political history "Of Italy.
A peculiar and comprehensive feature of the results of its scientific activity has been that of leaving the Po Valley area out of that historical cantonality to which previous studies had forced it, inserting it fully into the events and dynamics of Tyrrhenian Etruria, deeply linked to the Mediterranean, thus highlighting a historical and cultural parallelism, which is one of the main novelties of the research of the last decades concerning the archeology of pre-Roman Italy.
On the more general level of archeology, with its research activity and also with its commitment on the institutional and organizational level, it has made a decisive contribution to the positive international evaluation of archeology at the University of Bologna. In the QS World University Ranking by Subject of the last two years the archeology of the University of Bologna occupies the first place among all the disciplines of the University and at the national level is ranked second after the University of Rome La Sapienza, which has a long and consolidated tradition behind this field of study.
He is a member of several scientific committees of national and international magazines.
He has been the Local Scientific Responsible of the PRIN project 1995 City and territory in Etruria Padana (National Scientific Coordinator B. D'Agostino).
From 1998 until today he was National Scientific Coordinator of six PRIN research projects:
PRIN 1998: The form and development of the city in ancient Italy. Processes of territorial structuring, cultural and economic integration between Greeks, Etruscans and Italics; PRIN 2002: Etruscans and Greeks in the Po Valley: production assets, dynamics commerciali and cultural relationships; PRIN 2004: Urban form and society in Etruria Padana between VI and IV century a.C., PRIN 2006: Etruscans in border areas and relations with the Greeks. The funeral ritual and the ideology of death between the IV and IV centuries a.C.; PRIN 2008: The necropolis of Valle Trebba di Spina: towards the edition of the complex. Kits, social organization and commercial dynamics, PRIN 2011-2012: The Etruscan city and the sacred. Sanctuaries and political institutions. From 1988 to 2014 he directed the excavation of the University of Bologna in the Etruscan city of Marzabotto, a construction site that has always had the vocation of excavation-school and that has offered a highly educational experience to hundreds of students of University of Bologna and other universities.Teaching activityFirst as a researcher (since 1981) with collaboration in teachings taught by others, then as Associate Professor (since 1987) and finally as Professor Ordinary (since 1994) with full responsibility for the various courses he has been a holder in the SSD Etruscologia e Antichità Italiche, he has taught at the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy and at the Faculty of Conservation of Cultural Heritage and then at the School of Arts and Cultural Heritage, both in the courses of the old system (Classic Letters, Letters Modern and History) that in the Degree Courses (Literature and History) and the Master's Degree (Archeology and Ancient World Cultures, Science S toriche, Storia dell'Arte) following the reform. In this long and uninterrupted didactic activity he held courses in Etruscology, Etruscology and Italic Archeology, Introduction to Etruscology, Etruscan Epigraphy for a total annual number of hours as required by rules and regulations. In the last 8 years he has also held the Course of Celtic Antiquities in the Magistral Laura. He taught Etruscology and Italic Archeology in the School of Specialization in Archaeological Heritage of the University of Bologna and did teaching activities in the various Doctorate cycles before the Department of Archeology and then the Department of History, Civilization. From 2012 to 2017 he also held a course of Etruscology at the University of Padua and for many years has been teaching in the PhD Course in Archaeological Sciences of the same university whose scientific council has been part.It was "Professeur Invité" at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris and "Visiting Professor" at the University of Copenhagen. He also had collaborations, both in terms of research and teaching, with particular regard to the conduct of mixed doctorates, with several European universities (Paris, Grenoble, Tübingen, Munich). He has also given lectures and seminars in many Italian and foreign universities. Third mission activities. He is part of the Scientific Committee for the Etruscan city of Marzabotto and of the Scientific Committee for the History Museum of the City of Bologna. He has collaborated with museums and Authorities for research, temporary exhibitions and permanent exhibition structures: He was a member of the Scientific Committee, with care of the exhibition and the catalog and with the drafting of several essays in the exhibitions: - From the Antiquities Room to the Civic Archaeological Museum. History of the Bologna Civic Archaeological Museum (Bologna 1984) - Oi Etruskoi tou Borra (Thessaloniki 1988) - Etruscan principles between the Mediterranean and Europe (Bologna 2000) - The journey beyond life. The Etruscans and the Beyond among masterpieces and virtual reality (Bologna 2014). He has been scientific consultant and author of essays in the exhibitions: - Warriors, Princes and Heroes between the Danube and the Po from Prehistory to the Early Middle Ages (Trento 2004) ; - The great ways of civilization (Trento 2011). He was a member of the Scientific Committee and author of essays in the exhibition: - Venetkens. Journey to the land of ancient Veneti (Padua 2013). He also participated with essays and collaborations on the exhibition floor at various exhibitions: - Le Monde étrusque (Marseille 1977), - The Gauls and Italy (Rome 1978), - Prima Italia. The Italic art of the first millennium (Rome 1981), - Civiltà degli Etruschi (Florence 1985), - Santuari d'Etruria (Arezzo 1985), - Spina. History of a city between Greeks and Etruscans (Ferrara 1993), - Los Etruscos (Mexico City 1999), - The Etruscans (Venice 2000), - Etruscan Knights in the Po Valley (Bazzano 2010), - Die Etrusker. Welkultur im antiken italien (Karlsruhe, 2017-2018) .He curated the exhibition project and the setting up of the Museo Nazionale Etrusco, P. Aria di Marzabotto, inaugurated in 1979 and curated the preparation of two sections of the International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza and the drafting of the respective catalogs: Greek and Etruscan ceramics (1993); The egee, nuragiche, Phoenician-Punic and Magno-Greek ceramics (1995). In Bologna, in the Museum of the History of the City (Genus Bononiae) he was scientific consultant for the preparation of the Museum opened in 2012 and curator of the rooms dedicated to Bologna Etruscan and Roman. He had an intense activity of divulgation with meetings, conferences and seminars at Museums, Institutions and Institutions, Groups and Cultural Associations interested in the Etruscan civilization. Management assignments at the University of Bologna and other institutions in the University: from 1996 to 2002 he was Director of the Department of Archeology 2002 to 2008 he was Dean of the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy of the University of Bolognadal 2012 to 2015 he was Director of the Department of History, Culture and Civilization he also directed for 6 years the School of Specialization in Archeology of the same University. He was a member of the Senate Academic of the University of Bologna first as Faculty Dean (2002-2008) and then as representative of the Department Directors of the Humanistic Area (2012-2015). He was President of the School of Studies on the city and territory of the University of Bologna. He was a member of the teaching faculty of the Doctoral School in Archeology of the Department of Archeology and then of the Doctorate in History, Culture and Civilization of the University of Bologna of the homonymous Department.Inloading with other institutions: from 2007 to 2004 he was Member of the Technical-Scientific Committee for Archaeological Heritage of the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities, from 2005 to 2012 he was President of the same Technical-Scientific Committee and in this capacity and for the same years he was part of the National Council for Cultural Heritage (Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities) from 2016 to today is a member of the Council of the University Council for the Archeology of the Classical World. 2007 to 2017 he was a member of the Board of Directors of the RavennAntica Foundation representing the University of Bologna and since 2017 he has been of the same Foundation. From 2011 to 2014 he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Civic Museums Institution of the Municipality of Bologna. Since 1992 he has been Ordinary Member of the National Institute of Etruscan and Italian Studies; since 2003 he has been on the Board of the Institute and in December 2017 he was elected President of the same Institute which, founded in 1927, is the national and international reference point for etruscological studies. He is also a member of the Italian Corpus Committee. Speculorum Etruscorum, Corresponding Member of the Germanic Archaeological Institute, Ordinary Member of the Academy of Sciences of Bologna, President of the Center for Studies of the Archeology of the Adriatic. Scientific production. He is author of over 250 scientific publications on highly qualified magazines and volumes of the sector. These contributions represent the reference point for the Etruscan studies on the Po Valley area and are present in all the most up-to-date historical syntheses and in the main exhibition catalogs on Etruscan civilization. These are his 25 most significant publications: 1) The Etruria Padana and the trade of marble in the fifth century, in «Studi Etruschi» XLV, 1977, pp.109-147.2) Corpus Speculorun Etruscorum, Italy (Bologna, Museo Civico I), and Italy l (Bologna Civic Museum II), Rome 1981.3) Alphabetical graffiti and marks in the Villanovan bolognese.New data on the spread of the alphabet in Etruria Padana, in "Emilia Preromana" 9-10, 1981-1982 (ed. 1984), pp. 147-255.4) Topography and "monumental arrangement" of the necropolis felsinee, in The formation of the pre-Roman city in Emilia Romagna (Proceedings of the Conference, Bologna 1985), Bologna 1987, pp.197-259.5) Chronological problems of the felsine steles in the light of the respective grave goods, in Acts of the II Etruscan International Congress (Florence 1985), Rome 1989, pp. 927-949.6) The situation in Etruria Padana, in Crise et transformation des Sociétés archaïques de l'Italie antique au V siècle av J.C. (Table Ronde, Rome 19-21 November 1987), Rome 1990, pp. 51-100.7) New epigraphic data from Marzabotto and the role of local communities in the "foundation" of the city, in "Classical Archeology" XLIII, 1991 (Miscellanea Etrusca and Italica in honor of Massimo Pallottino), pp. 693-715.8) Cults and rites in Etruria Padana: some considerations, in G. Bartoloni (edited by), Anathema: regimen of the offerings and life of the sanctuaries in the Ancient Mediterranean (Proceedings of the International Conference, Rome 1989), antiquities. History Archeology Anthropology »3-4, 1989-1990 (1992 edition), pp. 599-617.9) Plug in Etruscan images. Eracle, Daedalus and the problem of water. The economic and productive function: goods, exchanges, craftsmanship, in F. Berti, P.G. Guzzo (edited by), Spina. History of a city between Greeks and Etruscans (Catalog of the Exhibition, Ferrara 1993-1994), Ferrara 1993, pp.115-128 and pp. 179-217.10) Inscriptions and graffiti of the Etruscan city of Marzabotto, Bologna-Imola 1994.11) L'alimentation des Etrusques, in J.L. Flandrin, M. Montanari (edited by), Histoire de l'alimentation, Paris 1996, pp. 183-195.12) Verucchio, Etruscan center of "frontier", in "Ocnus" IV, 1996, pp. 247-268.13) The Etruscans and their economy, in V. Castronovo (edited by), History of the world economy. 1. From Antiquity to the Middle Ages, Bari 1996, pp. 99-116.14) New epigraphic data and the role of the Etruscans in relations with north-eastern Italy, in Protostoria and history of the "Venetorum angulus" (Proceedings of the 20th Conference of Etruscan and Italic Studies, Portogruaro-Quarto d'Altino-Este -Adria, 16-19 October 1996), Pisa-Rome 1999, pp. 453-474.15) G. Sassatelli, A. Donati (edited by), History of Bologna, 1.Bologna in antiquity, Bologna 2005.16) The Etruscans in the Po Valley. Reflections, problems and research perspectives, in «Annals of Foundation for the Claudio Faina Museum »15, 2008, pp. 71-114.17) Die Beziehungen zwischen dem Mittelmeerraum and Europe. Die Rolle der Etrusker, R. Gebhard, F. Marzatico, P. Gleirscher (edited by), Im Licht des Südens, (Exhibition Catalog, München 2011), München 2011, pp. 105-115.18) The art of the situlae, in M. Gamba, G. Gambacurta, A. RutaSerafini, V. Tiné, F. Veronese (edited by), Venetkens. Journey through the land of ancient Venetians (Exhibition Catalog, Padua 2013), Venice 2013, pp. 99-105.19) G. Sassatelli, G.M. Della Fina, Gli Etruschi, Milan 2013.20) Etruscans, Venetians and Celts in the Po Valley area. Cultural relations and individual mobility, in «Annals of the Claudio Faina Museum Foundation» XXI, Rome 2013, pp. 397-427.21) Statuary in stone between Etruscans and Celts, in L'Inquiry and the rhyme. Writings for Lorenzo Braccesi, Rome 2014, pp. 1225-1241.22) Archeology and prehistory at the origins of our discipline: the Bologna Congress of 1871 and its protagonists, Bologna 2015.23) The city and the sacred in Etruria Padana: rites of foundation, cults and urban-institutional arrangements, in E. Govi (edited by), The Etruscan city and the sacred. Sanctuaries and political institutions (Proceedings of the Conference, Bologna 21-23 January 2016), Bologna 2017, pp. 181-204.24) "... die Heimat von Städten". Die Entwicklung der etruskischen Stadtstaaten, in Die Etrusker. Welkultur im antiken italien (Sonderaustellung im Badischen Landesmuseum Karlsruhe, 2017-2018), Darmstadt 2017, pp. 160-168.25) Etruscans and Italics in northern Italy: cultural relations and individual mobility, in Etruskische Sozialgeschichte revisited (2. Internationale Tagungder Sektion "Wien-Österreich" des National Institute for Etruscan and Italic Studies, Wien 8-10 Juni 2016), Wien 2017.
