Ateneo - UPO

Fundamentals of Late Antique Archaeology

Attending students:
1) "Appunti del corso" and image folders (on DIR)
2) V. FIOCCHI NICOLAI, Le catacombe cristiane: origini e sviluppo, in Aurea Roma. Dalla città pagana alla città cristiana, Catalogo della mostra (Roma 22 dicembre 2000-20 aprile 2001), a cura di E. Ensoli e E. La Rocca, Roma 2000, pp. 301-308;
3) R. SANTANGELI VALENZANI, Edilizia residenziale in Italia nell’altomedioevo, Roma 2011, pp. 15-32;
4) V. FIOCCHI NICOLAI, M. SANNAZARO, Santuari rurali: caratteri e funzioni, in Martiri, santi, patroni: per una archeologia della devozione, Atti X Congresso Nazionale di Archeologia Cristiana, a cura di A. Coscarella, P. De Santis, Arcavacata di Rende 2012, pp. 199-229
/https://www.academia.edu/30612305/Santuari_rurali_caratteri_e_funzioni_in_Martiri_santi_patroni_per_una_archeologia_della_devozione._Atti_X_Congresso_Nazionale_di_Archeologia_Cristiana_Universit%C3%A0_della_Calabria_15-18_settembre_2012_Cosenza_2012_pp._199-229_in_collaborazione_con_M._Sannazaro_
4) G. CANTINO WATAGHIN G. CANTINO WATAGHIN, La città nell’Occidente tardoantico: riflessione sui modelli di lettura della documentazione archeologica, in Trent’anni di studi sulla tarda antichità: bilanci e prospettive, Atti del convegno internazionale (Napoli, 21-23 novembre 2007), a cura di U. Criscuolo e L. De Giovanni, Napoli 2009, pp. 61-76.

Non-attending students:
1) "Appunti del corso" and image folders (on DIR)
2) V. FIOCCHI NICOLAI, Le catacombe cristiane: origini e sviluppo, in Aurea Roma. Dalla città pagana alla città cristiana, Catalogo della mostra (Roma 22 dicembre 2000-20 aprile 2001), a cura di E. Ensoli e E. La Rocca, Roma 2000, pp. 301-308;
3) R. SANTANGELI VALENZANI, Edilizia residenziale in Italia nell’altomedioevo, Roma 2011, pp. 15-32;
4) V. FIOCCHI NICOLAI, M. SANNAZARO, Santuari rurali: caratteri e funzioni, in Martiri, santi, patroni: per una archeologia della devozione, Atti X Congresso Nazionale di Archeologia Cristiana, a cura di A. Coscarella, P. De Santis, Arcavacata di Rende 2012, pp. 199-229 https://www.academia.edu/30612305/Santuari_rurali_caratteri_e_funzioni_in_Martiri_santi_patroni_per_una_archeologia_della_devozione._Atti_X_Congresso_Nazionale_di_Archeologia_Cristiana_Universit%C3%A0_della_Calabria_15-18_settembre_2012_Cosenza_2012_pp._199-229_in_collaborazione_con_M._Sannazaro_
5) 4) F. MARAZZI, Città, territorio ed economia nella tarda antichità, in Storia d’Europa e del Mediterraneo, I. Il mondo tardoantico, dir. A. Barbero, sez. III, L’ecumene romana, a cura di G. Traina, vol. VII, L’impero tardoantico, Roma 2010, pp. 651-696. https://www.academia.edu/5981320/citt%C3%A0_territorio_ed_economia_nella_tarda_antichit%C3%A0

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Further (non mandatory) texts, to deepen topics dealt with during the lessons:
- M. DAVID, Archeologia della tarda antichità, Milano, 2021.
- Instrumentum Domesticum. Archeologia Cristiana, metodologie e cultura materiale della tarda antichita' e dell'alto medioevo, a cura di G. Castiglia, Ph. Pergola, Città del Vaticano 2020
- O. Brandt, Battisteri oltre la pianta. Gli alzati di nove battisteri in Italia, Città del Vaticano 2012

The course aims, at a basic level, to transfer to students:
-the fundamental knowledge related to the history and methodologies of the discipline as well as to the main themes of Late Antique archaeology (transformation of towns and countryside, Christianisation, iconography);
- the ability to frame the main phenomena dealt with during the course, in spatial and chronological terms, as well as to identify sites and artefacts correctly;
- the ability to analyse the historiographical positions presented in class and illustrated in the handouts/essays included in the examination programme, as well as to summarise, with clarity of exposition, the state of knowledge on a given topic.
At a more advanced level, the aim of the course is to acquire:
- an in-depth and full knowledge of the most relevant topics of the Late Antique and Medieval archaeology;
- the ability to place the artefacts and material structures dealt with in a wider historical, religious and cultural context;
- the ability to express critical judgements on the topics discussed, also as the result of a personal re-elaboration of students; to illustrate the transformation of Late Antiquity through a fluent and precise presentation, using the specific terminology learnt.

In order to develop a whole comprehension of the topics and to pass the exam, a basic knowledge of Roman and Late Antique history, acquired as usually expected in the secondary school, is strongly requested, in order to frame the topics illustrated during the course in a right chronological and historical context.

Lectures, study visits to museums and sites, individual study. The study visits are functional to the application of the acquired knowledge, through direct contact with sites and artefacts. Supporting materials prepared by the teacher (handouts) and all images of sites and artefacts on which the course focuses are available on the DIR platform. Non-attending students must also refer to these materials.
The texts include differentiated materials: the handouts and the related images are an accurate support to the course, resuming in written form what has been illustrated in the lessons; the texts indicated in the bibliography are materials for the scientific community, which are useful to the student to deepen specific issues, but also to compare with the specialized literature, analyze and recognize the argumentative process, identify contexts of application of disciplinary terminology, in order to achieve the objectives of the course at a more advanced level.
During the lessons there will be moments of collective discussion on the topics dealt with, in order to facilitate, through the direct involvement of the students, the recognition of the main themes, the critical reflection and the acquisition of adequate presentation methods.
During the lessons, the lecturer will also focus on the specific terminology used for the individual topics dealt with, in order to facilitate its understanding and assimilation.

The course is also offered for the Master's Degree Programme in Filologia e Patrimonio Culturale. Those who have already taken it during their three-year degree programme are kindly requested to contact the teacher. Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/servicesstudents- physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The exam is oral and will be organized as follows: 1) checking the acquired knowledge on topics treated during the course, in relation to specific themes concerning the material culture and main contexts in the Late Antiquity (example of question: “which are the main characteristics of housing in Late Antiquity?” or “describe and analyse the Constantin’s arch”); 2) check of the ability to apply knowledge and its understanding, by contextualising the main examined phenomena, in time, space and in an appropriate historical framework (example of question: “what about the origins of Christian basilica”?); 3) check of the ability in expressing critical assessments about the historiography considered and the bibliography proposed (example of question: do you think that in the essay “X” the issue of the transformation of the towns in Late Antiquity is exhaustively treated?”); 4) check of the ability in communicating acquired knowledge and in organizing a synthetic presentation of the main problems (example of question: “would you give a synthetic presentation of the main features of the Tetrarchic architecture?”).
During the exam, at least 3 questions will be posed; the identification and critical comment of images concerning sites/contexts/artefacts analyzed during the course will be considered as an important part of the exam.
The grades are given in thirtieths, according to the following parameters:
1) knowledge and understanding of the basic notions and contexts treated in the course and their clear exposition: 18 points out of 30 (sufficiency);
2) adequate skill in acknowledging images and in making comments on them, as well as in contextualizing them, from an historical, archaeological and historiographical perspective: 6 points out of 30;
3) adequate skill in connecting subjects and methodological approaches as well as in using scientific terminology associated to the discipline: 6 points out of 30.

The course aims to provide basic knowledge on main topics and methods of the discipline (the transformations of the town and country, settlement dynamics, architecture and building techniques, urban layout, Christian topography, iconography), between the 4th and 6th century AD. Learning unit 1: Introduction to Late Antique Archaeology Learning unit 2: The arch of Constantine in Rome Learning unit 3: Towns layout Learning unit 4: Monumental architecture Learning unit 5: Residential architecture Learning unit 6: Transformations of the countryside Learning unit 7: Christian topography Learning unit 8: Christian architecture Learning unit 9: Iconograph Integration of the gender dimension In learning unit 2, Helen, a woman of power, will be discussed, with hints at the role of "matronae" in Late Antiquity

In order to reach the knowledge, competences and skills corresponding to the basic level, students are asked to show:
- (knowledge and understanding): to have acquired the basic knowledge related to the history, methodology and the most relevant topics of the discipline;
- (applying knowledge and understanding): to be able to recognise, through the images shown in the exam, the site/ artefact and to provide a commentary that highlights its characteristics and specificity, with a correct chronology;
- (making judgements): to be able to discuss the main historiographical positions presented (for example the idead of 'decadence' historically associated with the Late Antique period), pointing out their limits;
- (communication skills): to be able to present, with clear formulation, relevant considerations on artefacts, sites and issues relating to the main themes of Late Antique archaeology;
- (learning skills): to be able to use the methodological tools provided in the lessons (for those attending) and using the handouts on DIR and the essays included in the bibliography of the exam (for all), in order to identify to identify the key subjects.
In order to achieve an advanced level, students must show:
- (knowledge and understanding): to know in depth all the topics covered in class, as well as the interpretations of sites and classes of artefacts dealt with;
- (ability to apply knowledge and understanding): to be able to place the sites or artefacts dealt with during the course in a broad topographical, production, historical and cultural context;
- (autonomy of judgement): to be able to discuss the historiographic positions presented and the interpretations debated on sites and artefacts, identifying their limits/potentialities and showing that one has fully understood their importance for the development of the discipline;
- (communication skills): to organise the presentation of the required topic in a coherent and organic way, demonstrating the ability to synthesise; to explain the contents with the appropriate terminology, including the specialistic one;
- (learning skills): to be able to establish links, for example between architectural solutions or between forms of settlements, as well as to develop personal deepening.