54
Archeological Research Methodologies
UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI "L'ORIENTALE"
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
The course aims to provide methodological tools and fundamental knowledge for critically addressing topics related to maritime and underwater archaeology, with particular reference to the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean. Through the analysis of case studies, students will develop skills in interpreting archaeological, historical, and environmental data concerning the relationship between coastal communities and the sea.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Students will develop:
- Knowledge of the main historical, artistic, and technical developments of ancient maritime cultures;
- Basic skills in the use of written, iconographic, and material sources for the study of maritime archaeology;
- The ability to use bibliographic and digital tools, including in a modern foreign language;
- Familiarity with fieldwork methodologies, techniques, and documentation practices in maritime and underwater contexts;
- Understanding of the issues related to the management, protection, and enhancement of the underwater cultural heritage.
They will also be able to apply this knowledge to the critical analysis of archaeological contexts and materials, and to the reconstruction of the historical and cultural dynamics of ancient maritime societies.
ADDITIONAL EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
A – Independent judgment
Development of critical thinking skills in the analysis of data and the reconstruction of ancient maritime cultural contexts, including a comparative perspective with the modern world.
B – Communication skills
Ability to clearly express ideas and convey information, both orally and in writing, using appropriate technical language, in both academic and non-specialist contexts.
C – Learning skills
Development of critical autonomy, methodological awareness, and an interdisciplinary approach to the study of ancient maritime cultures, in line with the learning objectives of the degree program.
Course Prerequisites
It may be useful to have a general understanding of the maritime environment and of archaeological research methodologies in general.
Teaching Methods
Knowledge and understanding are achieved through participation in lectures (70%), practical exercises (20%), seminars (5%), and supplementary activities (5%). Lectures include the presentation of the various topics in the syllabus, supported by digital images; they also involve the discussion of scientific articles, student presentations on specific topics, and the viewing of documentaries. Practical activities include the analysis of artifacts and optional educational visits to archaeological sites. The learning process also involves the presentation—both written and oral—of individual or group research projects, educational experiences, and optional field exercises.
Assessment Methods
- The final exam will be oral and, in some cases, written in the form of a short paper. There are no intermediate assessments that contribute to the final grade. The exam consists of questions posed by the instructor, one for each of the main topics covered in class. The evaluation is expressed on a 30-point scale.
- The exam may be conducted in Italian, English, or French for Erasmus students.
- The assessment criteria are based on the ability to express ideas clearly and coherently, the ability to synthesize and identify the main issues related to the subject, and the use of appropriate technical and scientific language acquired during the course.
Texts
Non-attending students are kindly requested to contact the lecturer for more specific information about the required readings.
C. Beltrame, Archeologia marittima del Mediterraneo. Navi, merci e porti dall’antichità all’età moderna. Roma: Carocci, 2012 (pp. 17-37, 141-157).
R. Petriaggi, B. Davidde, Archeologia sott’acqua, Teoria e pratica. Pisa e Roma: Fabrizio Serra Editore, 2007 (pp. 14-47, 109-134, 179-214).
P.A. Gianfrotta, P. Pomey, Archeologia subacquea: storia, tecniche, scoperte e relitti. Milano: Mondadori, 1981 (pp. 236-285).
N. Marriner, C. Morhange, Geoscience of ancient Mediterranean harbours, ESR 80 (2007): 137-94.
S. Medas, Archeologia della navigazione. Roma: Carocci Editore, 2024.
Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage 2001. Paris, 2 November 2001: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=13520&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000220708
A. Catsambia, B. Ford, and D.L. Hamilton, The Oxford Handbook of Maritime Archaeology, Oxford University Press: Oxford, 2011.
Contents
1. Introduction to maritime and underwater archaeology;
2. History of underwater archeology in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean;
3. Methods and techniques of underwater archeology in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean;
4. Conservation and protection of underwater heritage in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean;
5. Methods and techniques of naval archaeology;
6. Experimentation in naval archeology in the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean;
7. Maritime ethnography in the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean;
8. Coastal environment of the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean;
9. Ports and coastal structures of the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean;
10. Ancient navigation in the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean.
Course Language
ITALIAN