Archaeological Materials Science

Educational objectives

The objective of the curricular unit “Introduction to Archaeometry” is to equip students with the basic theoretical and practical knowledge in: a) the chemical/mineralogical composition and nature of different types of archaeomaterials (ceramics, stone and mortars, pigments, organic residues, metals, glass, paper, textiles); b) the different types of advanced scientific techniques used in the characterization of archaeological materials. In particular, the focus of the unit would be to form students able to apply the correct “problem solving” analytical approach (“What-How-When-What for?”) and to provide answers to specific questions arising during the study of archaeomaterials and archaeological sites. The unit will include specialized seminars from invited scholars from the leading Institutions in the field.

Educational objectives

The course intends to provide an understanding of the national and regional megaliths in terms of:
- Architecture;
- Spoils;
- Timelines;
- Raw materials;
- Relationship between man and the ecosystem in the past
- Process of selection of the preferred areas for construction of funerary monuments.

Educational objectives

The aim of the courses is to enable students to enrich the knowledge of curricular courses with topics of their choice

Educational objectives

The aim of the course is to provide students with the basic linguistic skills needed to deal with scientific communication in the field of archaeometry.

Educational objectives

To provide students with an overview of the Greek history of art and architecture and with an overview of field archaeology including land surveys, in the context of Greek archaeological stratification.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Identify essential characteristics of particular art and architectural styles in ancient Greece;
- Understand the procedures of antique/traditional techniques;
- Understand the basics of land surveying;
- Understand the basics of stratigraphic excavation in the context of Greek archaeological stratification.

Educational objectives

Aim of this unit is to provide students with the ability to:
- Understand of the physical and chemical properties of ceramic, faience and glass; ores, metals and alloys; textile or paper fibers; and constituent materials in paint films – colouring materials and binding media.
- Apply spectrometric techniques, i.e. ultra violet-visible and infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and interpret the results;
- Apply chromatographic analysis, i.e. high-performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, and interpret the results.
- The unit will have a practical approach and will be based on a number of actual case studies currently being investigated by researchers at AUTH ARCHMAT partners institutions and invited scholars from leading institutions worldwide.

Educational objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Follow judiciously the newest updates in the conservation science/archaeometry field by attending specialized theoretical and field-based seminars on selected topics by leading experts from the ARCHMAT Consortium and leading Research Institution in Europe and beyond
- Apply state-of-the-art methods and techniques in their specific field of interest.

Educational objectives

The aim of the courses is to enable students to enrich the knowledge of curricular courses with topics of their choice

Educational objectives

This course is aimed to introduce and discuss the science of reconstructing the relationships between past societies and the significance of “experiment, experimental, reference collection through experiments” in archaeology, as well as the interactions between humans and their environment in the archaeological and historical past.

Educational objectives

This course is composed of two modules dealing with the identification of biological materials from archaeological sites and physical methods applied to the study of archaeological materials, respecyively. For this reason it includes extensive sessions of laboratory work.

Educational objectives

The course is aimed at giving a general overview of Roman archaeology, being focused on the main artistic, architectural and urban topics of Rome and of the Roman Empire. It is expected that the students can acquire autonomous competences in evaluating and interpreting Roman art and architecture, through the analysis of selected and paradigmatic examples. The possibility of visiting, during the course, some main sites and monuments at Rome will give the opportunity for interactive activities and seminars, which will improve the critical capacities of the students, useful for their future career.

Educational objectives

The final exam consists of the discussion of a Master's thesis, comprising a written document, in English, which presents the results of an original study on a problem of an applicative, experimental or research nature. The preparation of the thesis is carried out under the guidance of an advisor during the fourth semester.