Archaeological Materials Science - Scienza dei Materiali Archeologici

This part of the course is dedicated to the discussion of experimental protocols aimed at reproducing activities with replicas of lithic, osseous, ceramic or metallic tools. The students will learn how to organize an experimental protocol on the bases of the archaeological hypothesis that they want to verify; they will choose the controlled variables crucial to validate all the procedures. The micro-modifications (use-wear) originated by the friction of the tools with the material worked and the micro-residues entrapped in the micro-surface will be documented in detail through macro, meso- and micro-observations with different optical, digital and electron scanning equipment and different noninvasive chemical techniques. As a result, the course will allow the students to learn the principles of the use of experimental archaeology as a proxy for the functional study of the archeological tools. - The course will be characterized by a broad practical part aimed to organize and carry out experimental sessions for reproducing replicas to be observed and discussed through observation with optical and digital equipment. Having successfully completed this module, students will be able to demonstrate: - General knowledge of the technological, use-wear analysis and residues analyses; - General knowledge of the experimental approach needed to create a reference collection. - Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: General knowledge of how and when to organize an experimental protocol. Basic knowledge of the use of OLM and SEM for technological, use-wear and residues analyses - Critical and judgmental capacities: Skill to document an experimental protocol and to critically evaluate the obtained results in terms of technology, use-wear and residues applied to archaeological contexts. Communication skills - Skill to clearly communicate the results of the analysis of an archaeological context or assemblage through experimental and archaeometric approaches - Skill to communicate the results of the analysis to people not trained in archaeology - Learning skills - Skill to organize and realize an experimental protocol - Skill to apply a preliminary technological and functional analysis of archeological items or replicas of them. Organization of the course The course will be characterized by a theoretical session dealing with the fundamentals of the experimental archaeology for building a reference collection (5 h), technological (1 h), use-wear (2 h), residues analysis (2 h) and a broad practical part (20 h) aimed to organize and carried out experimental sessions for reproducing replicas to be observed and discussed through the observation with various equipments. rough the observation with various equipments.

non sono richiesti prerequisiti

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Frequenza non obbligatoria ma altamente consigliata

Per superare la prova orale lo studente deve dimostrare di aver acquisito una sufficiente conoscenza dei principi teorici dell'Archeologia Sperimentale, del significato di protocollo sperimentale, della organizzazione e dello svolgimento di un protocollo sperimentale per produrre una collezione di confronto utilizzabile per analisi tecnologiche, analisi di tracce d'uso e analisi dei residui.

Time schedule 15 weeks/4 h per week face-to-face lectures: 30 h Laboratory work: 30 h