To know, to understand in depth the Middle Ages in the long diachrony through the sources made available mainly by archaeological research, but also by historical, artistic, socio-anthropological research.

The Middle Ages will be investigated in every characteristic aspect: society (with insights into socio-cultural anthropology), habitat (archaeology of landscape/topography), building (archaeology of elevations), material culture (archaeology of artefacts). 

The course provides training in the use of archaeological / topographical sources and the archaeological method.

Propaedeutic part: the lectures will be initiated by a supporting - and historical framing - part preparatory to the course. It will address the end of the Classical Age (starting with the crisis of the 3rd century AD), analyze the causes of the cessation of the Western Roman Empire by relating the debate to the archaeological source.

General part: it will analyze the concept of the Middle Ages, the fortunes of the Middle Ages and "medievalism" in contemporary society also in relation to mass media and the so-called "new-media."

The history of the discipline in Europe, the evolution of urban centers and rural settlements between Late Antiquity and the Late Middle Ages, the emergence of monastic complexes and castles, funerary archaeology and material culture will be addressed.

Case studies of European scope will be presented, with special attention toward local ones (with lunges on the cities of Rimini "excavations of Piazza Ferrari," Pesaro "excavations of the Cathedral" and Urbino). 

General topics of the course: 

0. Introduction to the course and the medieval age.

1. Apogee of the Roman Empire, the 2nd century AD (summary overview).

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

3. Termination of the Western Roman Empire until Justinian: 5th and 6th centuries AD.

4. History of medieval archaeology in Europe.

5. Methodology of archaeological research.

6. Urban centers in the Late Antique and Early Middle Ages, materiality and processes of transformation. Analysis of the territory of the Eastern Roman Pentapolis with special regard to the cities of Rimini, Pesaro and Urbino.

7. Archaeology of the medieval countryside. The countryside from Late Antiquity to the early Middle Ages, forms of anthropization, land management, habitat and landscape with lunges on the territory of the Pentapolis in general (northern Marche and southern Romagna) and the provinces of Rimini and Pesaro-Urbino in particular. 

8. Archaeology of architecture and monuments.

9. Archaeology of cemeteries and burials.

10. Archaeology of production and trade.

Monographic part: diachronic transformations of landscape and peopling in the northern Marche region from Late Antiquity to the Late Middle Ages. 

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

During the year there will be archaeological excavations, workshops, educational outings, Summer School and other field activities that will allow the application of the methods learned.

Keep up to date by consulting the lecturer and the Medieval Archaeology Portal noticeboard at www.archeologiamedievale.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

Preparatory part on Christian archaeology: 

Stasolla F. M., Fiocchi Nicolai V., 2002, L'archeologia delle pratiche funerarie. Late antique and medieval period and Byzantine world, Treccani on-line [the study text is available on the blended moodle platform].

Sacco D., 2024, La basilica paleocristiana di S. Maria Assunta presso la città di Pesaro. New data, preliminary, proposed by the restart of research, Rome, 2024 [The study text is available on the blended moodle platform]

General part:

Augenti A., 2016, Archaeology of Medieval Italy, Bari (Laterza).

Monographic part:

Sacco D., 2017, Il paesaggio degli arcivescovi. Processi di trasformazione del territorio tra alto e basso Medioevo nelle Marche settentrionali, ‘ArcheoMed’ monografie, 4, Firenze [the study text is available on the blended moodle platform]. 

NB.

Please note that the notes taken during the lessons, on topics not covered in the assigned textbooks, will also constitute examination material for attending students. The material on the excavation of the ‘Settefinestre villa’ and the ‘domus del chirurgo di Rimini’, available on the blended moodle platform, also 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

Preparatory part on Christian archaeology: 

Stasolla F. M., Fiocchi Nicolai V., 2002, L'archeologia delle pratiche funerarie. Late antique and medieval period and Byzantine world, Treccani on-line [the study text is available on the blended moodle platform].

Sacco D., 2024, La basilica paleocristiana di S. Maria Assunta presso la città di Pesaro. New data, preliminary, proposed by the restart of research, Rome, 2024 [The study text is available on the blended moodle platform]

General part:

Augenti A., 2016, Archaeology of Medieval Italy, Bari (Laterza).

Monographic part:

Sacco D., 2017, Il paesaggio degli arcivescovi. Processes of transformation of the territory between the early and late Middle Ages in the northern Marche, ‘ArcheoMed’ monographs, 4, Florence [the study text is available on the blended moodle platform]. 

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

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.

In addition to Medieval Archaeology I, it is also advisable to include among the elective exams: "Communication strategies and valorisation of cultural heritage" assigned to the "Information, Media and Advertising" course, which will be held in the second semester.