The study of the late antique and early medieval campaign in the recent years, has an important development and allowed an extensive overhaul of the knowledge about the characteristics and organization of the territory and its transformations between the fourth and the eighth centuries.

Similarly they have increased knowledge on the structure of the city between the V and the X century, with a marked difference between the late antique city (V - VII century) and the early medieval cities (VIII - X century) .

The course wants to go through a key issue in the Medieval Archaeology, first about the transformation of the territory, incastellation and the city between the late antique and early Middle Ages, and then taking into account the latest development of studies on the subject, providing the tools to understand and to interpret critically the archaeological sources.

Propaedeutic part: the lessons will be started by a support part - and historical framework - preparatory to the course. It will deal with the end of the ancient world (starting from the crisis of the third century AD), will analyze the causes of the cessation of the Western Roman Empire by relating the debate to the archaeological source. It will then analyze the concept of the Middle Ages, the fortune of the Middle Ages and "medievalism" in contemporary society in relation to the mass media and the so-called "new media".

General part: it will concern the history of the discipline in Europe, the evolution of urban centers and rural settlements between Late Antiquity and the late Middle Ages, monastic complexes and castles, funerary archaeology and material culture. Case studies of European scope will be presented, with particular attention to local ones (with insights on the cities of Rimini "excavations of Piazza Ferrari", Pesaro "excavations of the Cathedral" and Urbino). 

General topics of the course: 

0. Presentation of the course and the medieval age.

1. Apogee of the Roman Empire, the II century AD. (summary outline).

2. Advent and entrenchment of Christianity (3rd-4th centuries AD). Christian archaeology: from the catacombs to the great basilicas of Constantine.  

3. Termination of the Western Roman Empire until Justinian: V and VI centuries A.D.

4. The historical "Denialism" about the end of the Western Empire. Archaeological sources on the end of the empire. 

5. History of medieval archaeology in Europe.

6. Methodology of the archaeological research.

7. The urban centers in the high and low Middle Ages, materiality and processes of transformation. Analysis of the cities of Rimini, Pesaro and Urbino between roman age and low Middle Ages.

8. Archaeology of the Medieval Campaigns. The campaigns from the Late Antiquity to the low Middle Ages, forms of anthropization, of management of the territory, habitat and landscape with deepening on the territories of the Marches and the Romagna, in general, and of the provinces of Pesaro and Urbino and Rimini. 

9. Archaeology of architecture and monuments.

10. Archaeology of cemeteries and burials.

11. Archaeology of production and trade.

Monographic part: narrating archaeology. Methods of communication of cultural heritage: the example of the excavation of the castle of Monte Copiolo.  

Knowledge and understanding
Students should obtain knowledge and understanding of the primary processes that took place from the IV to the XV centuries in Italy and Europe, mastering the discipline to include a post-secondary level of understanding of the primary methods of archaeological research and its interdisciplinary dimensions.

Applying knowledge and understanding
Students must be able to apply their knowledge and understanding of archaeological processes so as to demonstrate a professional approach to their work - that is, the applicability of the study of a medieval archaeological context. They must also possess adequate skills in creating and sustaining arguments as well as in asking and possibly resolving questions in the field of medieval archaeology.

Making judgements
Students must develop the ability to collect and interpret data provided during the course of the lessons, from bibliographic texts.

Communication skills
Students must develop effective communications skills so as to be able to communicate with both specialists and non-specialists about topics and events pertaining to medieval archaeology.

Learning skills
Students must develop learning skills necessary for undertaking self-directed further study in the area of medieval archaeology.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises) and specific communications from the lecturer can be found, together with other supporting activities, inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Lectures; meetings with specialists. Meetings with the professor are advised for asking questions or requesting clarification.

Attendance

Attendance is strongly recommended. Frequency: at least 2/3 of the lessons.

Course books

Propaedeutical part:

Stasolla F. M., Fiocchi Nicolai V., 2002, L'archeologia delle pratiche funerarie. Periodo tardoantico e medievale e mondo bizantino, Treccani on-line, il testo è disponibile online: http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/l-archeologia-delle-pratiche-funerarie-periodo-tardoantico-e-medievale-e-mondo-bizantino_%28Il-Mondo-dell%27Archeologia%29/

General part: 

Augenti A., 2016, Archeologia dell'Italia Medievale, Bari (Laterza).

Monograpich part: 

Sacco D., 2020, Il castello di Monte Copiolo, la Casa dei duchi di Urbino, Bologna. 

NB.

We remind you that also the notes taken during the lessons, on subjects not dealt with in the assigned textbooks, will be an exam subject for the attending students. Also the material on the excavation of the "Settefinestre villa" and of the "domus del chirurgo di Rimini", present on the blended platform, constitutes a study text. 

Assessment

Oral examination. The examination consists of a number of questions on the study texts and the topics covered in the course of the lectures. The questions are proposed in the form of a conversation.

The following will be assessed from excellent to very good (30 and praise-27): the student's possession of excellent/very good critical and in-depth study skills; the ability to link together the themes addressed in the course; the use of appropriate language with respect to the specific nature of the discipline.
Good to fair marks (26-23): the student's possession of a mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relative critical capacity and the ability to link the themes dealt with: the use of appropriate language.
Sufficient assessments (22-18): the student has a minimal knowledge of the topics dealt with, even though there are some learning gaps; the use of inappropriate language.
Negative assessments will result in: difficulties in the orientation of the student with regard to the themes dealt with in the examination texts; gaps in the training; the use of inappropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Course books

Propaedeutical part:

Stasolla F. M., Fiocchi Nicolai V., 2002, L'archeologia delle pratiche funerarie. Periodo tardoantico e medievale e mondo bizantino, Treccani on-line, il testo è disponibile online: http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/l-archeologia-delle-pratiche-funerarie-periodo-tardoantico-e-medievale-e-mondo-bizantino_%28Il-Mondo-dell%27Archeologia%29/

Ward-Perkins B., 2008, La caduta di Roma e la fine della civiltà, Bari. 

General part: 

Augenti A., 2016, Archeologia dell'Italia Medievale, Bari (Laterza).

Monograpich part: 

Sacco D., 2020, Il castello di Monte Copiolo, la Casa dei duchi di Urbino, Bologna. 

NB.

We remind you that also the material on the excavation of the "Settefinestre villa" and of the "domus del chirurgo di Rimini", present on the blended platform, constitutes a study text. 

Assessment

Oral examination. The examination consists of a number of questions on the study texts and the topics covered in the course of the lectures. The questions are proposed in the form of a conversation.

The following will be assessed from excellent to very good (30 and praise-27): the student's possession of excellent/very good critical and in-depth study skills; the ability to link together the themes addressed in the course; the use of appropriate language with respect to the specific nature of the discipline.
Good to fair marks (26-23): the student's possession of a mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relative critical capacity and the ability to link the themes dealt with: the use of appropriate language.
Sufficient assessments (22-18): the student has a minimal knowledge of the topics dealt with, even though there are some learning gaps; the use of inappropriate language.
Negative assessments will result in: difficulties in the orientation of the student with regard to the themes dealt with in the examination texts; gaps in the training; the use of inappropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Classes will be held in the first semester, at Palazzo Albani, 36 hours will be provided with the following schedules: 

from Monday, September 27, 2021: 

Mondays: 14-16 C1 

Tuesday: 16-18 B2 3.0

Wednesday: 16-18 B2 3.0

Any changes will be promptly communicated using the blended learning platform.    

Those attending at least 2/3 of the classes are considered to be attending.

NB.

Third year students who did not choose Medieval Archaeology I in their second year can insert it in their study plan and take it in their third year without any problem.