Mediterranean Archaeology

Landscapes and Architectures of Ancient Latium. The course aims to deepen the knowledge of urban landscapes and architectures of Ancient Latium (Vetus and Adiectum), with reference to archaeological evidence, the history of research, and methodological issues. It will include in-depth analyses of monuments, materials, and contexts of the Roman world, starting from concrete case studies in the fields of ritual practices, architecture and urban planning, artistic and material culture. Systems of classification and philological analysis will be considered, as well as methodological problems, quantitative archaeological analyses, and qualitative analyses. In particular, the module will examine the succession of urban landscapes in the most important and/or best-known centers of the Latium Vetus and Adiectum, expanding knowledge of artifacts, works of art, and architectures from the 9th century BC to the Imperial age. Part of the lessons will also be devoted to the knowledge and use of computer-based systems for classification and data analysis, to the philological analysis of the various sources of information, and to the consideration of methodological problems. First week. The general features of the landscape of Latium will be presented, including the geomorphology of its different areas and their articulation (cities and territories) in a diachronic perspective. The methodology necessary to define the territorial structures of the different centers, their extent, and their boundaries will be illustrated, along with an overview of the monumental contexts present within them. Methods for the analysis and reconstruction of ancient urban and extra-urban landscapes will then be presented, starting from classification systems and the philological analysis of evidence relating to architectural and topographical contexts, and their integration within an information system. Second week. The methodologies of analysis and reconstruction of ancient landscapes will be further developed through the study of specific case studies. By examining literary sources and analyzing archaeological data, the history of some cities between the 9th and 7th centuries BC will be reconstructed. The settlement and socio-cultural characteristics of some communities in Latium, as well as possible transformations documented in them over the chronological segments under consideration, will be analyzed through the study of different types of contexts and monuments (places of worship, necropoleis, residential and productive buildings, etc.). For each of these contexts, the available information dossier will be presented, consisting of literary, archaeological, and iconographic sources (both ancient and modern). Third week. The narrative of the history of the urban landscapes of the centers of Latium Vetus and Adiectum will continue, addressing the chronological phase between the Orientalizing and Archaic periods. The method of presenting and analyzing archaeological data and literary sources will be the same as in previous lessons. After a general introduction to the historical period, the documentary corpora relating to individual monuments and complexes will be analyzed to propose reconstructions of the architectures and the contexts in which they were set. Fourth week. The narrative of the evolution of urban landscapes in the centers of Latium Vetus and Adiectum will continue, addressing the period of the early and middle Republican age. The method of presenting and analyzing archaeological data and literary sources will remain the same as in previous lessons. After a general introduction to the historical period, the documentary corpora relating to individual monuments and complexes will be analyzed to propose reconstructions of the architectures and the contexts in which they were set. Fifth week. The history of the urban landscapes of the centers of Latium Vetus and Adiectum will continue and conclude with the Late Republican and Imperial periods. The method of presenting and analyzing archaeological data and literary sources will remain the same as in previous lessons. After a general introduction to the historical period, the documentary corpora relating to individual monuments and complexes will be analyzed to propose reconstructions of the architectures and the contexts in which they were set. Sixth week. Some specific and particularly significant contexts will be considered in detail, with further attention to the methodology of analysis and reconstruction of the monuments built within them. The nature and informative value of literary sources, along with their interpretive challenges, will be assessed. Archaeological evidence relating to individual contexts will then be examined, also in light of how they have been published, together with the remaining testimonies useful for the integration of the architectures and the understanding of their cultural, political, and social implications. Seventh week. The course will conclude with two guided visits, each lasting about 5 hours, during which students will be guided through some of the sites examined in the course, so as to verify, with maps in hand, the material evidence discussed during the lectures.

No previous experience/classes needed

F. W. Walbank, A. E. Astin, M. W. Frederiksen, R. M. Ogilvie, A. DrummondThe, Cambridge Ancient History, Cambridge 2008, Vol. VII, part 2: The Rise of Rome to 220 B.C.

Meeting attendance

Interview. Students evaluation will be based on the following parameters: knowledge, active involvement in classes, reasoning, learning.

Regular lessons

Landscapes and Architectures of Ancient Latium. The course aims to deepen the knowledge of urban landscapes and architectures of Ancient Latium (Vetus and Adiectum), with reference to archaeological evidence, the history of research, and methodological issues. It will include in-depth analyses of monuments, materials, and contexts of the Roman world, starting from concrete case studies in the fields of ritual practices, architecture and urban planning, artistic and material culture. Systems of classification and philological analysis will be considered, as well as methodological problems, quantitative archaeological analyses, and qualitative analyses. In particular, the module will examine the succession of urban landscapes in the most important and/or best-known centers of the Latium Vetus and Adiectum, expanding knowledge of artifacts, works of art, and architectures from the 9th century BC to the Imperial age. Part of the lessons will also be devoted to the knowledge and use of computer-based systems for classification and data analysis, to the philological analysis of the various sources of information, and to the consideration of methodological problems. First week. The general features of the landscape of Latium will be presented, including the geomorphology of its different areas and their articulation (cities and territories) in a diachronic perspective. The methodology necessary to define the territorial structures of the different centers, their extent, and their boundaries will be illustrated, along with an overview of the monumental contexts present within them. Methods for the analysis and reconstruction of ancient urban and extra-urban landscapes will then be presented, starting from classification systems and the philological analysis of evidence relating to architectural and topographical contexts, and their integration within an information system. Second week. The methodologies of analysis and reconstruction of ancient landscapes will be further developed through the study of specific case studies. By examining literary sources and analyzing archaeological data, the history of some cities between the 9th and 7th centuries BC will be reconstructed. The settlement and socio-cultural characteristics of some communities in Latium, as well as possible transformations documented in them over the chronological segments under consideration, will be analyzed through the study of different types of contexts and monuments (places of worship, necropoleis, residential and productive buildings, etc.). For each of these contexts, the available information dossier will be presented, consisting of literary, archaeological, and iconographic sources (both ancient and modern). Third week. The narrative of the history of the urban landscapes of the centers of Latium Vetus and Adiectum will continue, addressing the chronological phase between the Orientalizing and Archaic periods. The method of presenting and analyzing archaeological data and literary sources will be the same as in previous lessons. After a general introduction to the historical period, the documentary corpora relating to individual monuments and complexes will be analyzed to propose reconstructions of the architectures and the contexts in which they were set. Fourth week. The narrative of the evolution of urban landscapes in the centers of Latium Vetus and Adiectum will continue, addressing the period of the early and middle Republican age. The method of presenting and analyzing archaeological data and literary sources will remain the same as in previous lessons. After a general introduction to the historical period, the documentary corpora relating to individual monuments and complexes will be analyzed to propose reconstructions of the architectures and the contexts in which they were set. Fifth week. The history of the urban landscapes of the centers of Latium Vetus and Adiectum will continue and conclude with the Late Republican and Imperial periods. The method of presenting and analyzing archaeological data and literary sources will remain the same as in previous lessons. After a general introduction to the historical period, the documentary corpora relating to individual monuments and complexes will be analyzed to propose reconstructions of the architectures and the contexts in which they were set. Sixth week. Some specific and particularly significant contexts will be considered in detail, with further attention to the methodology of analysis and reconstruction of the monuments built within them. The nature and informative value of literary sources, along with their interpretive challenges, will be assessed. Archaeological evidence relating to individual contexts will then be examined, also in light of how they have been published, together with the remaining testimonies useful for the integration of the architectures and the understanding of their cultural, political, and social implications. Seventh week. The course will conclude with two guided visits, each lasting about 5 hours, during which students will be guided through some of the sites examined in the course, so as to verify, with maps in hand, the material evidence discussed during the lectures.

No previous experience/classes needed

F. W. Walbank, A. E. Astin, M. W. Frederiksen, R. M. Ogilvie, A. DrummondThe, Cambridge Ancient History, Cambridge 2008, Vol. VII, part 2: The Rise of Rome to 220 B.C.

Meeting attendance

Interview. Students evaluation will be based on the following parameters: knowledge, active involvement in classes, reasoning, learning.

Regular lessons