Archaeology

CRISTINA LEMORINI

In consistency with the educational purposes of the whole teaching course, aim of the teaching unit is to give students knowledge and comprehension skills in the field of
EXPERIENCE AND EXPERIMENTATION IN ARCHAEOLOGY, that complete and/or reinforce those acquired in the first grade of studies. Moreover, it will make the students able to approach orginal themes in a research context, making more complex judgments, communicating knowledge and its process, and studying the subject in an independent and self-educational way.

The course is aimed to present the methodology of the experimental archaeology, its development and spread in the academy, the connections between the experimental archaeology and
the other archaeological disciplines. Moreover, a key point of the course is to explain what an “experimental protocol” means and how to apply it for the interpretation of the archaeological relics.

Strong understanding of the method and its application in both scientific research and public dissemination.

No prerequisite

Colours of the Past: Techniques, Perceptions, and Meanings through an Experimental Archaeology Approach
Colours, their perception, and their meanings have always characterized both the natural and human-made environments, and they remain a fundamental aspect of contemporary life.
Investigating the colours used by prehistoric and historical communities, the materials on which they were applied (such as stone, pottery, plaster, textiles, leather, and other media), and the techniques employed for their production provides valuable evidence for understanding their social and cultural significance.
The course aims to explore the technical aspects of the production and application of colours through the implementation of experimental protocols, integrating these practical activities with the available archaeological evidence concerning the role and significance of colours in antiquity. Students will be required to develop an individual or group project based on published data from specific archaeological contexts.
The results of the experimental work will then be used to design tests to members of the general public in order to investigate how these reconstructed colours are perceived today and what meanings they evoke within contemporary culture.
The course will consist of theoretical lectures, student project presentations, and practical sessions devoted to the implementation of experimental protocols.
The final assessment will consist of an oral examination.
A bibliography will be provided during the course.

Recommended during class

lecture based teaching plus practical

Not mandatory

Assessment of Experimental Protocol Projects (PowerPoint Presentation). Final Oral Examination.

Describe the method of Experimental Archaeology.

Describe the link between Experimental Archeology and Public Archaeology

• • Books: X