ENVIRONMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY

Obiettivi formativi

Objectives The aim of the module on Environmental archaeology is to present and discuss the interactions between humans and their environment in the archaeological and historical past. This broad scope embraces a range of environmental specialisms within archaeology, such as archaeobotany, archaeozoology (both vertebrate and invertebrate), palynology, palaeoclimate reconstructions as well as more synthetic and theoretical approaches to the past human environment. Specific objectives - Knowledge and understanding: The student will acquire the knowledge and understanding of theoretical issues in environmental archaeology as well as criteria for selecting the most appropriate methods for the various applications. - Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: The student will acquire the ability to apply environmental issues to support archaeological case studies. - Critical and judgmental capacities: The student will develop critical and judgmental skills by analysing case studies and defining appropriate methods to reconstruct palaeoenvironmental conditions from archaeological contexts. These skills will be developed through interaction with the lecturer during the course and through the preparation of a review. - Communication skills: The student will be asked to interact in the analysis of case studies and during the lectures to identify the appropriate palaeoenvironmental methods for archaeological studies. - Learning skills: The student will acquire the theoretical and practical ability to apply the palaeoenvironmental methods to archaeological studies so as to be able to replicate it to real case studies and for the formulation of project proposals.

Canale 1
DONATELLA MAGRI Scheda docente

Programmi - Frequenza - Esami

Programma
Specific objectives - Knowledge and understanding: The student will acquire the knowledge and understanding of theoretical issues in environmental archaeology as well as criteria for selecting the most appropriate methods for the various applications. - Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: The student will acquire the ability to apply environmental issues to support archaeological case studies. - Critical and judgmental capacities: The student will develop critical and judgmental skills by analysing case studies and defining appropriate methods to reconstruct palaeoenvironmental conditions from archaeological contexts. These skills will be developed through interaction with the lecturer during the course and through the preparation of a review. - Communication skills: The student will be asked to interact in the analysis of case studies and during the lectures to identify the appropriate palaeoenvironmental methods for archaeological studies. - Learning skills: The student will acquire the theoretical and practical ability to apply the palaeoenvironmental methods to archaeological studies so as to be able to replicate it to real case studies and for the formulation of project proposals. Syllabus - Introduction to Environmental Archaeology (2 h) - Fossil remains: etymology and definition (2 h) - Principles of pollen analysis. Interpretation of pollen records. Reconstruction of past flora, vegetation, climate, and environment (4 h) - Palaeoecology and palaeoclimate (4 h) - Human impact on past natural landscape. The transition from wild to domesticated plants: age and geographical distribution of the earliest remains of cereals, pulses, fruit trees and nuts, oil- and fibre-producing crops, ornamental plants, spices (4 h) Laboratory and fieldwork: - Sampling from archaeological contexts: planning and execution (6 h) - Fieldwork excursion (4 h) Review Environmental archaeology: Applications and case studies (4 h) Structure of the course The course is structured in three phases: - - theoretical part to analyse concepts, issues and the structure of environmental archaeology (16 hours) - - laboratory of palynology and fieldwork (10 hours) - - the revision of case studies in environmental archaeology (4 hours)
Prerequisiti
There are no prerequisites
Testi di riferimento
Study material Teaching materials, including handouts, thematic websites and scientific articles will be distributed in class and posted on a dedicated Moodle page.
Modalità insegnamento
Time schedule - 15 weeks/2 h per week - face-to-face lectures: 20 - Laboratory work: 10 h
Frequenza
Attendance is mandatory
Modalità di esame
The evaluation is based on a test with multiple answers and an oral examination.
Modalità di erogazione
Time schedule - 15 weeks/2 h per week - face-to-face lectures: 20 - Laboratory work: 10 h
  • Anno accademico2025/2026
  • CorsoArchaeological Materials Science - Scienza dei Materiali Archeologici
  • CurriculumCurriculum unico
  • Anno2º anno
  • Semestre1º semestre
  • SSDBIO/02
  • CFU3