Archaeology

Fieldwork is the fundamental tool in the production of cultural and social anthropological knowledge: through the prolonged immersion of the observer in the context of investigation and more or less structured dialogue with native interlocutors, it allows for the collection of ethnographic material, the documentation of concepts, social practices, and tangible and intangible products, the development of analyses and explanatory hypotheses, and ultimately the production of scientific texts. However, the extreme variability of observable contexts and practices, combined with the subjectivity of both observers and observed subjects and the plurality of theoretical perspectives that can be adopted in the investigation, make it very difficult to propose standardized methodologies that are universally applicable to the ethnographic field, leaving a wide margin of discretion to the choices of each researcher. Through a critical examination of a representative sample of the literature on the subject, we will examine the problems, obstacles, and risks inherent in the research, the goals that inspire it, and the options that can be adopted to achieve the objectives pursued. In addition, ethical issues and legal implications underlying the construction of ethnographic data and the processes of returning and sharing knowledge with the source communities will be addressed. In the final part, the skills acquired will be put into practice through exercises aimed at providing mastery of the investigation methods studied.

Advanced skills in critically understanding academic texts written in English. Basic knowledge of anthropology, history and geography.

1) The handbook: Okely, Judith 2020 (2012) Anthropological practice. Fieldwork and the ethnographic mehod. London: Routledge. 2) A handout of articles in PDF format that will be provided by the teacher 3) A book of your choice among the following:

Attendance, although not mandatory, is strongly recommended. The program does not change for non-attending students.

The exam will consist of a written test based on open questions, both compulsory and to be chosen by the student. The assessment will go from 18 to 30 with honors.

The course includes lectures, seminars, the use of audiovisual materials, and practical exercises for applying the methodologies illustrated in class. The teaching program implies that the single topics will be examined through the reference texts.

Fieldwork is the fundamental tool in the production of cultural and social anthropological knowledge: through the prolonged immersion of the observer in the context of investigation and more or less structured dialogue with native interlocutors, it allows for the collection of ethnographic material, the documentation of concepts, social practices, and tangible and intangible products, the development of analyses and explanatory hypotheses, and ultimately the production of scientific texts. However, the extreme variability of observable contexts and practices, combined with the subjectivity of both observers and observed subjects and the plurality of theoretical perspectives that can be adopted in the investigation, make it very difficult to propose standardized methodologies that are universally applicable to the ethnographic field, leaving a wide margin of discretion to the choices of each researcher. Through a critical examination of a representative sample of the literature on the subject, we will examine the problems, obstacles, and risks inherent in the research, the goals that inspire it, and the options that can be adopted to achieve the objectives pursued. In addition, ethical issues and legal implications underlying the construction of ethnographic data and the processes of returning and sharing knowledge with the source communities will be addressed. In the final part, the skills acquired will be put into practice through exercises aimed at providing mastery of the investigation methods studied.

Advanced skills in critically understanding academic texts written in English. Basic knowledge of anthropology, history and geography.

1) The handbook: Okely, Judith 2020 (2012) Anthropological practice. Fieldwork and the ethnographic mehod. London: Routledge. 2) A handout of articles in PDF format that will be provided by the teacher 3) A book of your choice among the following:

Attendance, although not mandatory, is strongly recommended. The program does not change for non-attending students.

The exam will consist of a written test based on open questions, both compulsory and to be chosen by the student. The assessment will go from 18 to 30 with honors.

The course includes lectures, seminars, the use of audiovisual materials, and practical exercises for applying the methodologies illustrated in class. The teaching program implies that the single topics will be examined through the reference texts.