Corso di laurea magistrale in
Archeologia e Storia antica

As part of the Master's Degree in Archaeology and Ancient History students will also be given the opportunity to acquire good theoretical and practical knowledge of the general methods for working with different types of medieval archaeological materials (especially ceramic artefacts for which information and instructions for properly developing graphic and photographic documentation will also be provided), thereby allowing them to independently carry out professional tasks involving the cataloging of archaeological material at the Archaeological Superintendencies of the Ministry of Culture.

Students will acquire extensive knowledge of the types of Late Antique and medieval pottery, and will learn about how the main medieval products (bone, fabrics, ceramics, glass and metals) were manufactured and marketed, so that they will be able to independently compare production with the technologies and materials related to such activities, from an overall and general perspective. The ability to recognize and correctly chronologically date the individual medieval artefacts will be verified directly by the lecturer.

A total of 24 hours of lessons (2 CFU – Italian university credits) will be held in the seminar classroom equipped with a multimedia projector. There will also be practical exercises and lessons at the Turin Museum of Antiquities that focus on the main Late Antique and medieval pottery artefacts from archaeological digs in Piedmont. Except for what is stated in the notes section, with regard to the possible ongoing emergency situation, the students who are not able to attend face-to-face lectures may access live-streamed lectures, with audio/video recordings available on the Moodle platform along with teaching material.

The ability to identify archaeological material will be verified through an oral examination with questions that may also include the use of images or graphic renderings. The preparation will be considered adequate if students can independently illustrate a typology from among the artefacts presented during the lesson using suitable archaeological terminology, and can establish relational interconnections, successfully inserting the materials within the correct production and marketing period.

In addition to the holding of thematic seminars focused on the main topics dealt with in the course of the individual lectures, there are also support activities relating to the reading of the documentation of the excavation concessions held by the Department (excavation journal, Stratigraphic Unit cards, plans and excavation), and seminar meetings relating to the main IT applications that can be used in the archaeological field. Practical exercises in drawing and archaeological photography are also guaranteed so that students can become familiar with modern technologies of work in the field and consequently develop theoretical bases but equally important notions of effective carrying out of practical activities, thus effectively combining theory and practice.

Students will have the opportunity to include theoretical notions in their course of study, related to techniques, materials of medieval craftsmanship (lithic, ceramic, glass, metallurgical, vegetable, animal and textile) and to the typological classification of individual artifacts, with lessons practices that provide, in particular, the recognition and direct identification in the classroom of late antique and medieval archaeological material. For this operation, for easily understandable organizational and legislative reasons, only ceramics will be used, with deposit duly authorized by the peripheral offices of the Ministry of Culture. Once this phase of the program has been completed, students will be provided with all the information necessary to correctly create the graphic and photographic rendering of the individual artefact (with practical exercises) and the compilation of an RA computerized form of the Ministry of Culture.

To prepare for this exam students will have to study the following literature. 

P. de Vingo, Production and importation of Late Antique and Early Medieval pottery in Liguria, in Küche und Keller in Antike und Frühmittelalter, edited by J. Drauschke, R. Prien, A. Reis, Tagungsbeiträge der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Spätantike und Frühmittelalter, Produktion, Vorratshaltung und Konsum in Antike und Frühmittelalter, Friedrichshafen, 30 May-1 June 2012, Hamburg, 2014, pp. 257-303.

P. de Vingo, Production and importation of Late Antique and Early Medieval pottery in Liguria, in Küche und Keller in Antike und Frühmittelalter, edited by J. Drauschke, R. Prien, A. Reis, Tagungsbeiträge der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Spätantike und Frühmittelalter, Produktion, Vorratshaltung und Konsum in Antike und Frühmittelalter, Friedrichshafen, 30 May-1 June 2012, Hamburg, 2014, pp. 257-303.

The titular professor of the Laboratory will take care of all the theoretical and practical part related to the study, classification and recognition of late ancient and medieval archaeological material while the graphic-computer and photographic part will be taken care of by two professional archaeologists in the sector. Lastly, in addition to the basic teaching hours provided through lectures, thematic conferences linked to the individual early medieval factories are also planned. The delivery method of teaching may be subject to changes pending restrictions imposed by the health crisis. If the teaching activities are not fully resumed face to face, students will be provided with live-streamed lectures and/or their recordings will be available on the Moodle platform, along with teaching material.