OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Acquisition of historical and archaeological knowledge of India and Sri Lanka, highlighting the importance of coastal areas in the context of South Asian archaeology, art, and religious tradition.
• Ability to contextualize the art and archaeology of South India and Sri Lanka within a global framework, recognizing the intercultural connections that contributed to the richness of these regions’ heritage.
• Understanding the cultural and social context in which artifacts and artworks were produced, through the exploration of written sources referring to social practices and economic dynamics.
• Exploration of interdisciplinary research methodologies, promoting an approach to archaeology that integrates insights and methods from disciplines such as anthropology, history, geology, and philology.
• Critical examination of the impact of colonialism on the archaeology and art history of the region, including the political, cultural, and ethical implications of research and heritage conservation.

APPLIED KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

The course aims to provide students with the knowledge and methodological tools required for the following activities:

• Interdisciplinary analysis and interpretation of archaeological sites and coastal/riverine contexts, with specific reference to South India and Sri Lanka, in relation to trade, cult, and artistic dynamics.
• Textual sources, alongside archaeological and material data, are used to reconstruct exchange networks, cultural landscapes, and religious and artistic practices in the Indian Ocean context.
• In-depth oral and written presentation of learned content, using appropriate specialized vocabulary.
• Development of critical and original interpretations, formulating arguments based on the integration of written sources, archaeological evidence, and visual documentation.

ADDITIONAL EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Independent judgment:

• Students should be able to select and interpret relevant data to form autonomous judgments, including critical reflections on archaeological, art-historical, and socio-cultural themes addressed during the course.

Communication skills:

• Students should be able to communicate information, ideas, problems, and solutions effectively, adapting their communication to the audience and context. They should also be able to write and orally present a short individual research project, applying an archaeological approach to a specific site.

Learning skills:

• Students should be able to apply their knowledge and understanding in a way that supports progressive and increasingly independent acquisition of skills. They should be capable of constructing and defending arguments, solving problems within their field of study, and using scholarly literature in at least one modern foreign language.