OVERVIEW

Petroarchaeometry is the field of study that enables the spatial (provenance) and temporal (geological age / age of the artifact) placement of stone finds and lithic materials (e.g., ceramics, plasters, mortars). The course is oriented towards the lifecycle of raw materials in the context of archaeological heritage.

The course, both theoretical and practical, includes fundamental concepts of mineralogy, as well as the genesis and petrographic classification of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Ornamental stones and ceramic materials of archaeological relevance are examined through practical sessions involving optical microscopy, classroom collections, and field visits to museums and archaeological sites, linking rock study methods with the communities that once utilized them.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The educational objectives of the petroarchaeometry course are: i) to enable the student to identify and classify rocks, tracing them back to the area of ​​geological origin. ii) to enable the student to observe, understand and describe composite materials of lithic origin (ceramics, mortars, plasters); iii) to illustrate, and apply in laboratory exercises, on collections and on the field, bulk and in situ analytical methods for understanding the composition and textural and mechanical characteristics of geomaterials.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course provides:

a foundational understanding of mineralogy and the petrogenesis of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Once students have acquired the tools to apply genetic criteria in distinguishing the three main rock types, the program introduces classification diagrams to assign the correct nomenclature to stone materials.

Geolithological mapping serves as a key tool to connect geomaterials with their geological context and to support provenance studies.

The learning objectives of the Petroarchaeometry course are:
i) to enable students to identify and classify rocks, tracing them back to their geological source areas;
ii) to develop students’ ability to observe, understand, and describe composite materials of lithic origin (such as ceramics, mortars, and plasters);
iii) to introduce and apply, through laboratory exercises on collections and in the field, both bulk and in situ analytical methods aimed at understanding the composition, textural features, and mechanical properties of geomaterials.

PREREQUISITES

The essential foundational concepts of mineralogy will be provided at the beginning of the course.

TEACHING METHODS

Teaching Methods and Attendance Policy

Classes are held in person. Although attendance is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended. Students who attend lessons in person are considered attending students. Upon specific request, the instructor allows remote access to classes (and/or their recordings) via the Microsoft Teams platform; however, students making use of this option will be considered non-attending. Given the integration of theoretical lectures and practical exercises, in-person participation is highly recommended. If students are unable to attend a significant portion of the course, they are encouraged to contact the instructor to agree on a supplementary study plan.

Lectures

Frontal lectures are delivered in the classroom using PowerPoint presentations and online resources.

Practical Exercises

The practical sessions include demonstration-based analyses and group discussions of samples from the DISTAV rock teaching collection. Rock samples are examined individually, and, when needed, with the aid of a 3D projector. At the end of the course, students will participate in a session at the Scanning Electron Microscopy Laboratory and/or a field excursion.

Indoor exercises take place in classrooms equipped with microscopes and appropriate lighting. Students are required to bring a 10x hand lens and a steel point for conducting scratch tests (relative microhardness assessment).

Students with Special Needs

Students with certified Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), disabilities, or other educational needs are invited to contact the instructor and the School/Department's disability advisor at the beginning of the course to arrange appropriate teaching methods that, while respecting the course objectives, take individual learning styles into account.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Origin of Igneous, Metamorphic, and Sedimentary Rocks
(Introduction: minerals, rocks, binders, plasters, concretes, ceramics, glass)

Principles of Classification of Igneous, Metamorphic, and Sedimentary Rocks
(Mineralogy; igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks; processes of subaerial weathering, alteration of buried artifacts, classification of degradation patterns)

Macroscopic Recognition Methods and Overview of Other Techniques
(Introduction to investigation methods; non-destructive characterization techniques; micro-destructive analytical methods)
(Absolute and relative dating of lithic and stone artifacts)

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Rocks
(Presence of defects in ornamental stones; color; pigmentation and color stability; alteration and durability)

Lithic Material Culture Through the Ages
(from the Neolithic to the Modern Era)

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

L. MORBIDELLI, Le rocce e i loro costituenti. Bardi Ed. 2014

E.M. WINKLER, Stone in architecture. Springler Verlag, Berlin, 1994

Siegesmund S, Snethlage R. (eds) 2011. Stone in Architecture, Properties, Durability Fourth edition, Springer, DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-14475-2

A disposizione (scaricabili da Aula WEB) copia dei Power Point usati a lezione.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination consists of an oral test. Students will be assessed on the course content and on their understanding of a book chapter or scientific article assigned by the instructor.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam is oral and focuses on the classification criteria of rocks. If, during the examination, it becomes necessary to assess the student’s ability to identify the components of a rock, a sample of stone material may be presented for discussion.

The exam also includes the critical reading and presentation, in PowerPoint format, of a scientific article—generally in English—on a topic previously agreed upon with the instructor.

The oral exam is conducted by two tenured faculty members (or, in limited cases, by one tenured faculty member and an expert formally appointed by the Degree Program Board) and has a minimum duration of 30 minutes.

The evaluation takes into account logical reasoning, the appropriate use of technical-scientific language, and the ability to apply classroom learning. Through a progression of questions from simple to complex, the exam is designed to assess the depth and accuracy of knowledge (factual understanding), the ability to organize it into a coherent framework, and the capacity to connect related topics.

A passing grade corresponds to the ability to classify a rock (igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic) using the appropriate nomenclatural criteria, with a justified explanation of the classification choices.