AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The module aims to provide students with the conceptual and operational tools needed to conduct the historical-archaeological analysis of a building, identifying its construction period and subsequent transformations (extensions, additions, partial destruction, maintenance). At the end of the course, students will be able to undertake the direct study of simple or complex buildings, using archaeometric and archaeological tools for architectural analysis and interpretation, with particular emphasis on the stratigraphic analysis of elevations and absolute dating tools at local, regional, or supraregional levels.

TEACHING METHODS

The course benefits from the long-standing collaboration with ISCUM-Institute of the History of Material Culture (Genoa), which developed some of the aforementioned dating tools and operates a Dendrochronology Laboratory. Classroom lessons will be complemented by field trips to directly observe stratified buildings and their architectural and construction components.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

This module provides a general overview of the investigation and research topics specific to "architectural archaeology" and the "history of material culture." It reviews basic theoretical concepts and illustrates the principles underlying the analytical methods and operational tools commonly used to analyze existing buildings from a historical-archaeological perspective.

The module then presents the main methods and tools for analysis and relative and absolute dating (elevation stratigraphy, mensiochronology of bricks and stone structures, analysis of masonry techniques, dating possibilities for mortars, chronotypology, dendrochronology, C14 dating), examining their potential applications in the architectural field and their limitations.

Finally, examples of archaeological readings are provided to illustrate the final critical analysis required to correctly interpret the results of each individual analysis and to develop hypotheses for a virtual historical reconstruction of the investigated artifacts, useful for verifying and communicating the results.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOATO A., L’archeologia in architettura. Misurazioni, stratigrafie, datazioni, restauro, Marsilio, Venezia, 2008.

BOATO A., NAPOLEONE L., Ricostruire la storia degli edifici tramite l'archeologia dell'architettura, in S.F. Musso, Recupero e restauro degli edifici storici. Guida pratica al rilievo e alla diagnostica. IV edizione aggiornata e ampliata, EPC, Roma, 2016, pp. 331-458.

FRANCOVICH R., PARENTI R. (eds), Archeologia e restauro dei monumenti, I ciclo di lezioni sulla ricerca applicata in archeologia, Certosa di Pontignano (SI), 28 settembre-10 ottobre 1987, All'Insegna del Giglio, Firenze, 1988 (in particualr T. Mannoni, M. Milanese, Mensiocronologia, pp. 383-402; L. Castelletti, Dendrocronologia, pp. 421-454).

MANNONI T., Caratteri costruttivi dell’edilizia storica, Venticinque anni di archeologia globale, 3, Escum, Genova, 1994 (available on www.iscum.it)

PITTALUGA D., La mensiocronologia dei mattoni. Per datare, per conoscere e per comprendere le strutture storiche, ECIG, Genova, 2009.

PITTALUGA D., Questioni di archeologia dell’architettura e restauro, ECIG, Genova, 2009.

Recommended reading:

BROGIOLO G.P., CAGNANA A., Archeologia dell'architettura. Metodi e interpretazioni, All'Insegna del Giglio, Borgo San Lorenzo (FI), 2012

DOGLIONI F., Stratigrafia e restauro. Tra conoscenza e conservazione dell'architettura, Lint, Trieste, 1997.

Further specialized articles on the various topics covered will be indicated during the lessons and, when possible, provided in pdf format. The slides projected in class will also be made available to all students, both attending and non-attending.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Classes begin in November

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

See the “Final exam 1st year”

ASSESSMENT METHODS

See the “Final exam 1st year”

FURTHER INFORMATION

Ask the professor for other information not included in the form