Corso di laurea magistrale in
Archeologia e Storia antica

The political and social changes that manifested themselves in the West between the Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages did not only lead to a general worsening of living conditions but also gave rise to new urban and peri-urban settlements, characterized by commercial dynamics and unprecedented evolutions of material culture. The course will focus on the archaeological analysis of the transformations of commercial networks and of the main settlement contexts facing the Mediterranean, highlighting phenomena of continuity and discontinuity between the late Roman and postclassical ages.

The teaching, in the two modules that compose it, therefore intends to return through the archaeological data the most exhaustive possible picture of the transformations that affected the main settlement centers of the Mediterranean, giving particular visibility to the economic and social realities which, in the diachrony considered, promoted the production and circulation of goods, men and ideas, even over long distances. From this point of view, the course intends to provide students with the tools to recognize the main archaeological indicators that characterize the strong social and economic change that affected the main centers overlooking the Mediterranean between Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages.

At the end of the course it is hoped that the student will be able to:

• know and adequately understand the main themes of Medieval Archeology in the Mediterranean area in relation to the transformations of urban centers and material cultures considered.
• be able to apply the acquired knowledge by correctly framing the topics covered in class geographically and chronologically, analyzing and understanding the scientific contributions indicated in the bibliography. Be able to consult and understand editions of archaeological excavations. Knowing how to identify and place in time and space the main classes of archaeological materials examined during the course.
• independently and critically recognize and interpret the main changes affecting the areas and settlement contexts considered between the Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages.
• have acquired a technical-scientific language suitable for the treatment of complex archaeological subjects; be able to work out diachronic links and connections with expository clarity.
• demonstrate that they have achieved an autonomous critical analysis capacity on the basis of the indications provided during the lessons and on the basis of in-depth consultation of the indicated bibliography.

Module 1 – «Archaeology of trade in the medieval Mediterranean»

After an introduction devoted to the framing of the geopolitical scenario of the Mediterranean in the first centuries of the Middle Ages, marked by profound changes in the western and eastern areas of the Roman Empire, the course will be devoted to the analysis of the main urban and peri-urban economic systems, characterized by a dense and dynamic commercial network (land, river and sea) which favored the movement of manufactured goods and men. The analysis of the changes and methods of long-range circulation of goods, conducted through the examination of different types of archaeological data, will allow us to outline an exhaustive picture of the identity transformations and the dynamics that influenced them in the broad chronology and distribution area considered . From this point of view, the study of the movement of goods (ceramics, iron, glass, building materials) and the reconstruction of the commercial road network that connected the territories in the Mediterranean area will be fundamental.

Module 2 – «Archaeology of the city between Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages»

The course will focus on the crisis of the ancient city and its transformations up to the origin of the municipal one. The first part of the lessons will be dedicated to examining the historiographical debate on the transformation of the city between the Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages and then moving on to the examination of emblematic case studies (related to the topics covered in module 1) functional to outlining an exhaustive picture of the urban transformations in the considered diachrony. The examples examined will be treated starting from the archaeological data and other available historical sources, thus highlighting the main themes of research on the post-classical city: fortification and defense systems, changes in residential and public spaces, christianization and urban funerary archeology. The framework of the data thus presented will provide an overview of the indicators of transformation of the city in the first part of the Middle Ages useful for understanding the profound historical changes that affect it.

Frontal lessons for a total of 72 hours (12 credits) held in the classroom with multimedia projections. There will be lessons at the Royal Museums of Turin and thematic seminars for in-depth analysis of the individual topics presented in the module. Those who will not be able to attend face-to-face lessons are invited to contact the teachers as well as use the teaching material uploaded to the Moodle platform, together with the indicated bibliography.

Acquired knowledge and skills will be assessed through an oral interview which will include the use of plans and images to verify the level of understanding achieved. The preparation will be considered adequate if the students demonstrate their ability to correctly explain, using appropriate terminology, the topics discussed in the individual lessons and treated in the indicated bibliography and will be able to place them in the right historical period, ranging between different geographical areas.

Module 2 requires the preparation of a research work to be presented and discussed in the classroom at the end of the course which will form an integral part of the exam assessment.

In addition to carrying out thematic seminars focused on the main topics addressed during the individual lessons, both support activities related to the reading of the documentation of the excavation concessions held by the Department (excavation journal, Stratigraphic Unit files, plans and excavation sections ), and seminars relating to the main IT applications that can be used in the archaeological field. Territorial exercises are also guaranteed with computerized survey tools so that students can become familiar with modern field work technologies, combining theoretical bases and practical activities in an effective way.

For students with SLD or disabilities, please read the support and reception of the University, and in particular of the procedures necessary for support during the exam. In all cases, interested parties are requested to inform the teacher at the beginning of the course, to agree on a personal learning path suited to their needs, even beyond the compensatory and dispensatory measures foreseen for the exam.

https://www.unito.it/accoglienza-studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa
https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-e-studentesse-con-disabilitahttps://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-e-studentesse-con-disturbi-specifici-di-apprendimento-dsa/supporto

J. Graham-Campbell, M. Valor, The Archaeology of Medieval Europe, volume 1 (Eighth to Twelfth Centuries AD), Aarhus University Press, Aarhus, 2007.

M. Carver, J. Klapste, The Archaeology of Medieval Europe, volume 2 (Twelfth to Sixteenth Centuries), Aarhus University Press, Aarhus, 2011. 

Specific insights will be devoted to the history of material culture and to the knowledge of archaeological indicators to analyze and understand the main late antique and medieval contexts located in the western Mediterranean areas. The teaching hours can be integrated with participation in optional activities: in the laboratory "Recognition and cataloging of late antique and early medieval Mediterranean manufactures", in seminars and archaeological excavations, in reconnaissance and inspections organized and coordinated by the teachers.