Archaeology

Activity type

Formazione tecnica, scientifica, economica e giuridica

SSD

BIO/02

Year

N/D

Semester

N/D

CFU

6

Hours distribution

42 classroom hours

Lecturers

ALESSANDRA CELANT
ALESSANDRA CELANT

Activity type

Formazione tecnica, scientifica, economica e giuridica

SSD

FIS/07

Year

N/D

Semester

N/D

CFU

6

Hours distribution

42 classroom hours

Lecturers

By the end of the course, students will have:
- Learned the fundamentals of sampling and interpreting paleobotanical remains from archaeological sites.
- Learned how to use scientific instruments, comparison collections, and scientific literature to identify plant micro- and macroremains.
- Gained ability to examine and discuss the basic concepts and issues of palaeoethnobotany and palynology, with particular attention to the taphonomy of plant remains, the origin and spread of agriculture, and paleoenvironmental reconstructions.
- Learned how to use correct scientific language.

There are no prerequisites.

- Aims and scope of palaeobotanical research and environmental archaeology.
- Conservation and taphonomy of plant remains: micro- and macrofossils, unaltered, mummified, mineralized, and carbonized plant remains. Imprints and compressions of plant fossils.
- Sampling techniques for lake sediments and archaeological contexts: planning and implementation.
- Identification of fossil wood, leaves, cuticles, algae, carpological remains, pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, and phytoliths. Data collection and management.
- Interpretation of pollen sequences. Reconstruction of past flora, vegetation, climate, and land use. Pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs as climate and environmental indicators. Human impact on past natural landscapes.
- Wood in archaeological contexts: spatial and functional interpretation.
- Naval archaeobotany and integrated paleobotanical research. Dendrochronology.
- Archaeocarpology. Plant domestication: timing and methods of crop initiation.

Lecture notes provided by the instructor during the course, available on the Sapienza Moodle e-learning platform.

Module: PHYSICS APPLIED TO CULTURAL HERITAGE AND GOODS
N/D
Module: PALEOBOTANY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY
N/D

The course consists of lectures (40 hours) and laboratory exercises (2 hours) using microscopes.

Attendance is strongly recommended due to the experimental and specialized nature of the course.

To pass the exam, a grade of at least 18/30 is required. Students must demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the identification of plant fossils, the reconstruction of past plant landscapes, the origin and spread of agriculture, and the interpretation of paleobotanical data in paleoenvironmental terms and in relation to human activity. The exam includes the identification of plant fossils and an oral exam on the topics covered in the course.

Module: PHYSICS APPLIED TO CULTURAL HERITAGE AND GOODS
N/D
Module: PALEOBOTANY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY
N/D

• Introduction and general concepts [4 hours]
  • Books: handouts


• Fossilization, sampling and identification of plant remains [12 hours]
  • Books: handouts


• Palynology [8 hours]
  • Books: handouts


• Archaeological wood analysis [8 hours]
  • Books: handouts


• Archaeocarpology [10 hours]
  • Books: handouts