OVERVIEW

The course aims at introducing the concept of landscape investigatingthe ways in which - starting from an archaeological reading, and hence focusing on material traces - it is possible to reconstruct the changes in the forms of management of environmental resources, the articulation of settlement and, therefore, the links between changes in the landscape and the dynamics of settlement. Particular attention will be paid to the dialogue between the different disciplines involved in the study of the landscape, as well as to the comparison of research approaches and procedures and the various and numerous processes of landscape heritagisation.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Landscape archeology is the discipline which studies the landscape from a historical and deeply diachronic perspective. Starting from a reflection on the concept of landscape and on how it is declined in the various disciplines, the course aims to: - provide the theoretical-methodological tools to read the evidences of past activities and settlements in present landscape, document and interpret them; - analyse and discuss the different types of sources (documentary-textual, cartographic, iconographic and field sources, with particular reference to the archaeological fieldwork) useful for reconstructing the changes in the practices and system activate and manage environmental resources; - show how those analyses allows to reconstruct the processes which built present landscapes and to better understand the social and settlement dynamics which historically took place in rural areas (and not only) - critically reflect, starting from an archaeological perspective, on the current processes of heritagisation of the landscape (European Landscape Convention, Faro Convention, etc.).

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course builds a path around the concept of landscape, the archaeological reading of the current landscape in different disciplines and research traditions (Italian and others) and the possible applications of these no destructive methodologies of archaeological investigation.

Tools and methods of landscape archaeology will be presented and discussed through eductional fieldworks, laboratories and case studies from Italian and European contexts. The course starts from the historiographical reconstruction of the different approaches that have tackled the concept of landscape from a historical perspective (from the work on the Italian agrarian landscape by Emilio Sereni to English Local History and English Historical Ecology). Archaeological approaches to landscapes will be explored in depth  (archaeology of the territory, ancient topography, archaeological survey, historic landscape characterisation, archaeology and environmental history). The aim is to show how the perspectives through which the landscape has been observed by the different disciplines and by archaeology have changed. How landscape archaeology could bring to light not only the evidence of buried settlements, but also of environmental resources management practices and systems and their changes through time will be deepened. How these methodologies could be employed in the territorial management and preservation  and in enhancement of cultural heritage will be also discussed.  

Attention will also be drawn to changes in landscape and settlement dynamics, through a constant dialogue with other disciplines (in particular geography, archive research and natural sciences). The consideration of these links can in fact also modify the perspective with which local social groups, settlement dynamics, and material culture are reconstructed. From these perspectives, we will reflect on how archaeology can contribute to the processes of landscape definition, protection and valorisation, and on the problems posed by the ongoing process of landscape heritagisation (European Landscape Convention, Faro Convention, etc.).

At the end of the course, students will have a detailed knowledge of how ways of reading the landscape have changed and of the applicative meaning of these research. They will also have the tools to navigate through the vast bibliography on the subject. Moreover, they will acquire the tools for a critical analysis of the studies carried out on landscape archaeology and ancient topography, as well as of the ongoing processes of heritagization and, final, to carry out autonomous observations of landscape archaeology.

For students in History and for those who selceted 9 CFU, aims, learning outcomos, programma and bibliography must be integrated, for the remaining 3 CFU from the fraction "Rural archaeology" of the course "Postmedieval and rural archaeology" (https://corsi.unige.it/off.f/2024/ins/77496). 

PREREQUISITES

No special prerequisites are required.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures together with seminars,  educational fieldwork and museum visits, lab-activities,  are planned. During the lessons, papers and documents will be introduced also by students (after and individual or small groups work).

The teaching material will be posted on the Aulaweb.

Lessons will be held in presence. Attendance, although not compulsory, is highly recommended.

Students with certified DSA, disabilities or other learning disorders are invited to contact the lecturer and the School/Department's relevant officer at the beginning of the course, to agree on possible teaching arrangements that, while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course programme is articulated around three key contents: the concept of landscape; reading landscape through archaeology (theoretical approaches, methods and strategies of investigation, (from landscape to site); applications between management of archaeological risk and heritagization processes.

The different and differentiated paths that in Italy and Europe have led to the construction and development of landscape archaeologies and non-invasive and non-destructive methodologies of archaeological investigation will be discussed and presented; starting from the methodologies of ancient topography and archaeological survey, approaches, strategies and methods for the historical-archaeological-environmental study of the landscape will be explored with a comparative view. The main application of these methodologies will be presented. The heritagisation processes of spaces, objects and memories connected with the landscape and the resulting critical issues will be also discussed.

Topics:

1) Research approaches for the study of no settled spaces (rural archaeology, archaeology of environmental resources, historical ecology, historical characterisation of the landscape, mountain archaeology, archaeology of rural settlement networks, ancient topography, agrarian archaeology, etc.).

2) Strategies to carry out archaeological surveys  

3) Why carry out an archaeological survey

4) heritagization processes

5) history and development of the no invasive methodologies for archaeological investigations

The programme will be the same for attenders and non-attenders. For non-attenders, an ad hoc course will be constructed through readings and texts of their choice.

For students in History and for those who selceted 9 CFU, programme and bibliography must be integrated, for the remaining 3 CFU from the fraction "Rural archaeology" of the course "Postmedieval and rural archaeology" (https://corsi.unige.it/off.f/2024/ins/77496). 

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The list of texts could change. Therefore, it is advisable to wait for the start of the lectures and the presentation of the programme before purchasing or borrowing.

For students in History and for those who selceted 9 CFU, programme and bibliography must be integrated, for the remaining 3 CFU from the fraction "Rural archaeology" of the course "Postmedieval and rural archaeology" (https://corsi.unige.it/off.f/2024/ins/77496). 

Fundamental texts

Anna Maria Stagno, Il paesaggio, la montagna e i boschi: dialoghi di archeologia, topografia e storia dell’ambiente, Borgo San Lorenzo, All’Insegna del Giglio, 2025.

Federica Boschi, Archeologia senza scavo. Geofisica e indagini non invasive, Bononia University Press, Bologna, 2020.

Stefano R.L., Campana, Mapping the Archaeological Continuum. Filling ‘Empty’ Mediterranean Landscapes, Londra-New York, Springer,  2018.

Anna Maria Stagno, Gli spazi dell'archeologia rurale. Risorse ambientali e insediamenti dell'Appennino Ligure (XV-XXI secolo), Borgo San Lorenzo, All'Insegna del Giglio, 2018 (only chapter one).

Richard E. Witcher, Broken Pots and Meaningless Dots? Surveying the Rural Landscapes of Roman Italy, «Papers of the British School at Rome», 74, 2006, pp 39-72.

Each student will have to prepare two topics among the list indicated below, they should be discussed with the lecturer. 

Landscape archaeology

Manuela Bernardi (a cura di), Archeologia del paesaggio, IV ciclo di lezioni sulla ricerca applicata in archeologia (Certosa di Pontignano - Siena-, 14-26 gennaio 1991), Firenze, 1992 (http://www.bibar.unisi.it/node/296)

Bruno David, Juan Thomas (edited by), Handbook of Landscape Archaeology, Walnut Creek, 2008.

Martin Carver M., Gaydarska B., Monton-Subias S. (a cura di) 2015, Field Archaeology from Around the World Ideas and Approaches, Heidelberg.

Ancient topography

Giovanna Bonora, Pier Luigi Dall’Aglio, Stella Patitucci, Giovanni Uggeri, La topografia antica, Bologna, 2000.

Nereo Alfieri, Dispensa di Topografia dell'Italia Antica, Università di Bologna, 1975.

Global archaeology of the territory

Tiziano Mannoni, Venticinque anni di archeologia globale 1. Archeologia dell’urbanistica, Genova, 1994.

Archaeological maps and risk

Riccardo Francovich, Alessandra Pellicanò, Marinella Pasquinucci, La carta archeologica fra ricerca e pianificazione territoriale, Firenze, 2001.

Maria Pia Guermandi (a cura di), Rischio archeologico: se lo conosci lo eviti, Atti del congresso Internazionale di Studi su cartografia archeologica e tutela del territorio (Ferrara 2000), 2002.

Historic Landscape Characterisation

Alexandra Chavarría Arnau, Andrew Reynolds (eds.), Detecting and understanding historic landscapes, Roma-Bari, 2015.

Simona Pietrobono, Sam Turner, Comparing methods in European context: Historic Landscape Characterisation and new perspectives for research in Italy, «Archeologia Postmedievale», 14, 2013, pp. 111-133.

Mountain Archaeology

Marco Avanzini, Isabella Salvador (a cura di), Antichi pastori: sopravvivenze, tradizione orale, storia, tracce nel paesaggio e archeologia, Atti della Tavola Rotonda (Bosco Chiesanuova (VR), 26-27 ottobre 2013), Trento, 2014.

Anna Maria Stagno (a cura di), Carved Mountain. Engraved Stones. Contribution to an archaeology of resources of Mediterranean mountains, «Archeologia Postmedievale» 17 (2013), pp. 13-439.

Documentation methods

Gabriele Gattiglia, Anna Maria Stagno, La documentazione scritta nella ricognizione archeologica sul territorio: un “vecchio” sistema di schedatura, «Archeologia Medievale», XXXI, 2005, pp. 453-459.

Enrico Cirelli, Classificazione e quantificazione del materiale ceramico nelle ricerche di superficie, in Medioevo, paesaggi e metodi, a cura di N. Mancassola, F. Saggioro, Mantova: SAP, 2006, pp. 169-176.

Aerial archaeology

Musson C., Palmer R., Campana S., In volo nel passato. Aerofotografia e cartografia archeologica, All’Insegna del Giglio, Firenze, 2005.

Further bibliographical indications and materials relating to the research and cases discussed will be provided in class and, when possible, uploaded to the Aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Classes will start during the second semester

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Exam will be oral. Written exercises and texts on case studies or critical readings are expected. Written excises will contribute to the final evaluation, but are not compulsory and have temporal validity during the academic year.

Erasmus students not proficient in Italian may request a substitutive bibliography, and take the examination in English or in Spanish.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral examination and the discussion of the in-progress written exercises will verify the achievement of the learning outcomes. The main assessment parameters are the mastery of the topics covered, the quality of the exposition and vocabulary used, both in the oral communication and in the written tests, and the capacity for critical and comparative reasoning.