The aim of the course is to provide basic knowledge useful for the understanding of archaeological materials. In addition, the main diagnostic techniques used for the characterization of various natural and artificial materials will be treated to better understand their nature, production techniques, but also provenance and dating. Aspects of deterioration phenomena of materials and the technologies used for the evaluation of their conservation state will be considered.

PART I: CHEMISTRY FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIALS

Introduction to the course. Chemistry as the study of matter and archaeological materials. Classifications and the aggregation of matter. Chemical and physical transformations. Basic concepts of analytical chemistry. Destructive and non-destructive, invasive and non-invasive analytical techniques and detection limits. Sampling principles.  

PART II: OVERVIEW OF THE ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES

- Spectroscopic techniques.

- X-ray diffraction.

- Thermal analysis.

- Optical and electronic microscopy.

- Radiography, tomography and multispectral imaging techniques.

- Dating techniques.

PART III: ARCHEOLOGICAL MATERIALS

Physical and chemical composition and production processes of:

ceramics mixtures, mortars, metals, pigments and natural organic dyes.

Case studies.

PART IV: DETERIORATION PROCESSES

The action of time on archaeological artefacts. Thermal, photochemical, chemical ageing and related tests.

Bibliographic research.

Unrequested

- Knowledge and understanding: The student must be able to describe the composition of the archaeological materials. The student will also be able to describe the production processes of materials and their degradation phenomena. 

- Applied knowledge and understanding: The student must be able to describe the main analytical techniques used for the characterization of archaeological materials. 

- Judgment autonomy: The student must be able to use the knowledge of the main arguments discussed during the course with maturity and autonomy in an interdisciplinary context, referring also to the case studies discussed during the course. 

- Communication skills: The student must be able to communicate effectively and with appropriate terminology the knowledge learned during the course.

- Learning ability: The student should have developed the learning skills necessary to take further studies and a deeper and wider knowledge with a certain level of autonomy.

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

Supporting activities are not planned.

Teaching

Frontal lectures supported by PowerPoints specifically produced by the lecturer.

Interactive lessons are planned based on the interpretation of data obtained by analysing archaeological materials.

Innovative teaching methods

Debate: Students will be engaged in regulated debates on certain topics, addressing potential research challenges posed by the use of chemical analysis for the characterization of archaeological materials.

Learning by doing: Students will have the opportunity to learn, through the interpretation of scientific data obtained by analysing archaeological materials with different analytical techniques, to associate several diagnostic methods discussed during the course to the questions they can answer.

Attendance

To be considered as attending student, one needs to attend lessons (at least two-thirds of them) and integrative activities.

Course books

- Artioli G., Angelini I., 2010. Scientific methods and cultural heritage: an introduction to the application of materials science to archaeometry and conservation science. Oxford University Press, Oxford;

- Pecchioni E., Fratini F., Cantisani E., 2018. Le malte antiche e moderne tra tradizione ed innovazione. Pàtron editore, Bologna;

- Levi S.T., 2010. Dal coccio al vasaio. Manifattura, tecnologia e classificazione della ceramica. Zanichelli

Further bibliography and digital resources, useful to learning  the course arguments, together with the course slides will be suggested  during the lessons and/or will be make available on the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it. 

Assessment

Oral exam. The purpose of the oral test is to verify the preparation of the student on the theoretical concepts presented during the lectures. Student will be asked to present appropriate examples for each topic covered during the course. The vote is expressed in thirtieth.

Assessments of excellence: the student demonstrates capacity in displaying contents with ability to critically evaluate, with an appropriate use of the specialistic language.

Distinct assessments: the student demonstrates a competent level in displaying contents appropriately, with some ability to critically evaluate; with an adequate specialistic language.

Discrete assessments: the student demonstrates an acceptable level of modest knowledge; a limited ability to critically evaluate; a quite adequate specialistic language.

Sufficient assessments: the student demonstrates minimal knowledge, with lacks in arguments and concepts and with the use of a non-completely adequate specialistic language.

Negative evaluations: the student demonstrates serious lacks in arguments, concepts and an inadequate specialistic 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.

Teaching

Individual study.

It is possible to follow the advancements of the course autonomously by regularly accessing on the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it. 

Attendance

Students unable to attend lessons are invited to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course, or at least two months before the exam date, in order to make arrangements.

Course books

- Artioli G., Angelini I., 2010. Scientific methods and cultural heritage: an introduction to the application of materials science to archaeometry and conservation science. Oxford University Press, Oxford;

- Pecchioni E., Fratini F., Cantisani E., 2018. Le malte antiche e moderne tra tradizione ed innovazione. Pàtron editore, Bologna;

- Levi S.T., 2010. Dal coccio al vasaio. Manifattura, tecnologia e classificazione della ceramica. Zanichelli

Further bibliography and digital resources, useful to learning  the course arguments, together with the course slides will be suggested  during the lessons and/or will be make available on the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it. 

Assessment

Oral exam. The purpose of the oral test is to verify the preparation of the student on the theoretical concepts presented during the lectures. Student will be asked to present appropriate examples for each topic covered during the course. The vote is expressed in thirtieth.

Assessments of excellence: the student demonstrates capacity in displaying contents with ability to critically evaluate, with an appropriate use of the specialistic language.

Distinct assessments: the student demonstrates a competent level in displaying contents appropriately, with some ability to critically evaluate; with an adequate specialistic language.

Discrete assessments: the student demonstrates an acceptable level of modest knowledge; a limited ability to critically evaluate; a quite adequate specialistic language.

Sufficient assessments: the student demonstrates minimal knowledge, with lacks in arguments and concepts and with the use of a non-completely adequate specialistic language.

Negative evaluations: the student demonstrates serious lacks in arguments, concepts and an inadequate specialistic 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.

The students should regularly access regularly to the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it concerning this course and use their institutional email.

Friday 3.00 pm - 4.00 pm. Monday-Friday by prior appointment (daniele.paderni@uniurb.it).