Ateneo - UPO

Foundations of Medieval Archaeology

Attending students:1) Appunti del corso e relative cartelle di immagini (su DIR); 2) A. AUGENTI, Archeologia dell'Italia medievale, Roma-Bari 2016, chap. V, VI, VII, VIII ; 3) A. MOLINARI – P. ORECCHIONI, La dinamica dei consumi attraverso le fonti archeologiche. secoli VIII-XV, in La crescita economica dell’Occidente medievale. Un tema storico non ancora esaurito, Atti del convegno internazionale, Pistoia, 14-17 maggio 2015, Roma e Pistoia 2017, pp. 255-276 https://www.academia.edu/32768957/MOLINARI_A._-_ORECCHIONI_P._2017._La_dinamica_dei_consumi_in_La_crescita_economica_dell_occidente_medievale._Un_tema_storico_non_ancora_esaurito_Atti_del_convegno_Atti_del_venticinquesimo_Convegno_Internazionale_del_Centro_Italiano_di_Studi_di_Storia_e_d_Arte_di_Pistoia_pp._266-276; 4) F. ZONI, Edilizia civile in pietra nell’Italia medievale. Un approccio diacronico al paesaggio architettonico dell’Italia settentrionale tra X e XII secolo, in Il paesaggio pietrificato. La storia sociale dell’Europa tra X e XII secolo, "Archeologia dell'Architettura", XXVI (2021), pp. 53-72 https://www.academia.edu/74220195/Edilizia_civile_in_pietra_nell_Italia_medievale_Un_approccio_diacronico_al_paesaggio_architettonico_dell_Italia_settentrionale_tra_X_e_XII_secolo_in_Il_paesaggio_pietrificato_La_storia_sociale_dell_Europa_tra_X_e_XII_secolo_Archeologia_dellArchitettura_XXVI_2021_pp_53_72Not attending students: 1) Appunti del corso e relative cartelle di immagini (su DIR); 2) A. AUGENTI, Archeologia dell'Italia medievale, Roma-Bari 2016, chap. , cap. V, VI, VII, VIII; 3) A. MOLINARI – P. ORECCHIONI, La dinamica dei consumi attraverso le fonti archeologiche. secoli VIII-XV, in La crescita economica dell’Occidente medievale. Un tema storico non ancora esaurito, Atti del convegno internazionale, Pistoia, 14-17 maggio 2015, Roma e Pistoia 2017, pp. 255-276 https://www.academia.edu/32768957/MOLINARI_A._-_ORECCHIONI_P._2017._La_dinamica_dei_consumi_in_La_crescita_economica_dell_occidente_medievale._Un_tema_storico_non_ancora_esaurito_Atti_del_convegno_Atti_del_venticinquesimo_Convegno_Internazionale_del_Centro_Italiano_di_Studi_di_Storia_e_d_Arte_di_Pistoia_pp._266-276; 4) F. ZONI, Edilizia civile in pietra nell’Italia medievale. Un approccio diacronico al paesaggio architettonico dell’Italia settentrionale tra X e XII secolo, in Il paesaggio pietrificato. La storia sociale dell’Europa tra X e XII secolo, "Archeologia dell'Architettura", XXVI (2021), pp. 53-72 https://www.academia.edu/74220195/Edilizia_civile_in_pietra_nell_Italia_medievale_Un_approccio_diacronico_al_paesaggio_architettonico_dell_Italia_settentrionale_tra_X_e_XII_secolo_in_Il_paesaggio_pietrificato_La_storia_sociale_dell_Europa_tra_X_e_XII_secolo_Archeologia_dellArchitettura_XXVI_2021_pp_53_72;5) G. BIANCHI, Archeologia della signoria di castello (X-XIII secolo), in S. Gelichi (a cura di), Quarant'anni di Archeologia Medievale in Italia, Archeologia Medievale, numero speciale, 2014, pp. 157-172 https://www.academia.edu/45069620/G_Bianchi_Archeologia_della_signoria_di_castello_X_XIII_secolo_in_S_Gelichi_a_cura_di_Quarantanni_di_Archeologia_Medievale_in_Italia_Archeologia_Medievale_numero_speciale_2014_pp_157_172Students enrolled in the Master's Degree Program in Philology and Cultural Heritage who have already taken the Medieval Archaeology examination as part of the Bachelor's Degree Program in Literature and have included the Medieval Archaeology IM course in their current study plan are required to contact the instructor to agree on the examination syllabus.Further readings:Students enrolled in the Master's Degree Program in Philology and Cultural Heritage who have already taken the Medieval Archaeology examination as part of the Bachelor's Degree Program in Literature and have included the Medieval Archaeology IM course in their current study plan are required to contact the instructor to agree on the examination syllabus.

In alignment with the Educational Objectives of the Degree Programme as outlined in the SUA-CdS, and with specific reference to the historical, geographical, and cultural heritage areas, this course aims to:
** Basic Level
OF1 (Knowledge and understanding) – Provide foundational knowledge regarding the history of Medieval archaeology, the main methodological approaches of the discipline, and the processes of transformation within medieval societies along with their causes, with particular emphasis on the organisation of urban and rural settlements, civil, religious, and military architecture, changes in funerary practices, and material culture.
OF2 (Applying knowledge and understanding) – Develop the ability to recognize and contextualise sites, monumental complexes, buildings, structures, artifacts, and findings from the Medieval period, correctly placing them within their spatial, chronological, and historical reference frameworks.
OF3 (Transversal skills) – Develop the ability to synthesise, with clarity of expression, the current state of knowledge regarding the topics covered throughout the course.

** Advanced Level
OF4 (Knowledge and understanding) – Provide in-depth knowledge of the topics covered, outlining the major historiographical issues in Medieval archaeology, with detailed focus on current national and international academic debates.
OF5 (Applying knowledge and understanding) – Develop the ability to integrate the acquired archaeological knowledge into the broader historical and cultural framework of the Middle Ages.
OF6 (Transversal skills) – Develop the ability to critically interpret the acquired content, evaluating the contribution of material sources to the reconstruction of the transformations of the medieval world—also as a means to independently investigate specific topics—as well as to communicate content and personal reflections using appropriate scientific and scholarly language.

The 6 ECTS credits earned during the course are distributed as follows:
1.5 ECTS credits (36 contact hours) of direct teaching (didattica erogativa - DE), including interactive sessions (see "Teaching Methods");
4.5 ECTS credits of independent study.

For a full understanding of the course and to successfully pass the exam, a basic knowledge of Medieval history is required. This should be based on prior learning from secondary education and standard textbook coverage, enabling a correct contextualisation—first and foremost chronological—of the specific topics addressed throughout the course.

Teaching and learning activities are conducted through:
- lectures dedicated to illustrating theoretical content, research methodologies, and the main contexts of Medieval archaeology;
- teacher-led analysis of images, sites, monumental complexes, buildings, structures, artifacts, and findings, aimed at developing the ability to recognize, contextualize, and interpret material evidence; educational field trips to museums and archaeological sites, aimed at applying the acquired knowledge through the direct observation of archaeological contexts;
- teacher-led discussions on case studies and major historiographical trends, designed to develop skills in critical analysis, argumentation, and scholarly debate;
- independent study of the materials assigned by the teacher.
For attending students, lecture notes prepared by the teacher and the iconographic repertoire used during classes will be made available on the DIR platform. These materials also serve as the primary learning support for non-attending students. The exam bibliography supplements the teaching materials and allows for the in-depth study of specific topics in Medieval archaeology, fostering the acquisition of independent study methods, engagement with scientific literature, and the use of specialised terminology. Furthermore, interactive discussions will take place during lectures, aimed at consolidating content comprehension, developing independent judgment, and enhancing presentation and communication skills.

This course is co-scheduled as Medieval Archaeology IM for the Master's Degree Programme in Philology and Cultural Heritage. Students who have already taken this course during their Bachelor's Degree studies are required 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 consists of an oral interview comprising at least three questions, which includes the identification and discussion of images related to sites, monumental complexes, buildings, and artifacts covered during the course.
To prepare for the exam, students must refer to the teaching materials specified by the teacher in this Course Syllabus. Assessment is graded on a 30-point scale. The interview aims to verify the achievement of the expected learning outcomes, with particular reference to:
- knowledge and understanding of the discipline's core content, through the analytical description of the sites covered, and the explanation of research methodologies and the main processes of transformation in the Medieval world. Evaluation weight: up to 18 points;
- the ability to apply knowledge and understanding, through the identification, spatio-temporal contextualisation, and interpretation of sites, monumental complexes, buildings, and artifacts of the period under consideration. Evaluation weight: up to 6 points;
- transversal skills, through a discussion aimed at verifying the ability to compare different interpretative models (Making judgements), to present content coherently using subject-specific terminology (Communication skills), and to independently establish connections between contexts, material sources, and the exam bibliography (Learning skills). Evaluation weight: up to 6 points.
To achieve a passing grade (sufficienza), students must demonstrate a knowledge of the foundational content of the course, recognize and contextualise the main sites and artifacts of the Medieval period, discuss the major issues addressed during the course, and present them correctly using the basic terminology of the discipline.
For an intermediate grade, students are required to show an adequate ability to apply their knowledge, critically discuss the primary historiographical interpretations, and establish connections between the topics covered.
For a high grade, students must demonstrate an in-depth and critically re-elaborated knowledge of the content, the ability to independently contextualise the examined archaeological sites within the broader historical and cultural framework, argue their evaluations based on archaeological evidence and scientific bibliography, and present the content with full mastery of specialised terminology.
Honors (cum laude) are awarded to students who, in addition to fully meeting all expected learning outcomes, demonstrate exceptional critical independence, skills in synthesis and linking themes, contexts, and material classes, as well as absolute mastery of the discipline's scientific language.

The course focuses on the core themes and methods of the discipline (transformation of cities and the countryside, settlement dynamics, architecture and construction techniques, production and trade, funerary rituals, and the history of mentality through material culture), from the formation of the Roman-Germanic kingdoms to the central Middle Ages. Learning Unit 1: Introduction to Medieval Archaeology Learning Unit 2: Cities and Their Transformations up to the Carolingian Age Learning Unit 3: The Countryside up to the Carolingian Age Learning Unit 4: Cities from the Carolingian Age to the Central Middle Ages Learning Unit 5: The Countryside from the Carolingian Age to the Central Middle Ages; Incastellamento Learning Unit 6: Production and Trade Learning Unit 7: Funerary Rituals
"Integration of the Gender Dimension": Gender-related themes will be addressed during the lecture on monasteries (Learning Unit 2), focusing on the specific case of early medieval female monasteries; furthermore, the lecture on villages (Learning Unit 5) will investigate typically female activities, such as weaving.

Upon completing the course, in alignment with the contents of the SUA-CdS, students will have achieved the following learning outcomes and will be able to:

** Basic Level
RAA.1 (Knowledge and understanding) – Demonstrate knowledge of the history of Medieval archaeology, its main methodological approaches, and the transformation processes of medieval societies, with particular reference to transformations in urban and rural settlement systems, civil, religious, and military architecture, the phenomenon of incastellamento, funerary landscapes, craft production, and material culture.
RAA.2 (Applying knowledge and understanding) – Recognise sites, monumental complexes, buildings, structures, artefacts, and findings covered during the course, describing their main characteristics and correctly placing them within the spatial, chronological, and historical framework of the Middle Ages.
RAA.3 (Transversal skills) – Compare the main historical positions discussed in class (with particular reference to the concepts of transformation and continuity in the medieval world), present the acquired archaeological contexts in a clear and orderly manner using the foundational vocabulary of the discipline, and use course texts and materials to independently organise their own study.

**Advanced Level
RAA.4 (Knowledge and understanding) – Critically understand the transformation processes of medieval societies and their underlying reasons, interpreting archaeological evidence related to the de-structuring and reorganisation of settlement networks, the formation of ‘incastellamento’ systems and territorial powers, transformations in production systems and rural economies, and the evolution of material culture as an indicator of economic and social processes.
RAA.5 (Applying knowledge and understanding) – Contextualise sites, monumental complexes, buildings, structures, artefacts, and archaeological contexts within the broader historical, political, economic, social, and religious framework of the Middle Ages, developing comparisons between different case studies and different territorial contexts.
RAA.6 (Transversal skills) – Critically compare different interpretative models regarding the transformations of the medieval world, arguing their evaluations based on archaeological evidence; organise a coherent and well-structured presentation using the specialised vocabulary of the discipline with propriety; independently identify bibliographical tools useful for deepening specific topics and connecting contexts, materials, and historical phenomena.