The course aims to the acquisition of the problems of pre- and protohistoric archaeology, of its methodology and of its history, with peculiar references to the Italian situation
scheda docente
materiale didattico
The course combines “classic” archaeological reading with selected modern approaches, showing how interpretations emerge from the interaction between evidence, methods, and research questions—and how present-day perspectives inevitably influence the way we reconstruct the past. Special attention is given to broad themes such as mobility, long-distance contacts, the circulation of goods and technologies, productive specialization, and conflict, in order to explore how economic and social networks form and transform at different scales.
Overall, the course aims to develop students’ critical reading skills and familiarity with the key concepts and language of prehistoric and protohistoric archaeology, providing a solid foundation for engaging with current scholarship and debates.
The required readings will be introduced, discussed, and assigned during the course, ensuring a targeted selection consistent with the topics covered in the program.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Non-attending students are required to contact the teacher to arrange a personalized study program, ensuring that they can achieve the course’s learning objectives even without participation in classroom activities.
Programma
This course introduces the major social and cultural transformations that shaped Europe—especially Italy—from the later prehistoric period into the beginnings of protohistory. Moving through the Bronze Age and into the early Iron Age, it offers students a clear chronological and conceptual framework for understanding material culture, burial practices, settlement forms, and changing landscapes.The course combines “classic” archaeological reading with selected modern approaches, showing how interpretations emerge from the interaction between evidence, methods, and research questions—and how present-day perspectives inevitably influence the way we reconstruct the past. Special attention is given to broad themes such as mobility, long-distance contacts, the circulation of goods and technologies, productive specialization, and conflict, in order to explore how economic and social networks form and transform at different scales.
Overall, the course aims to develop students’ critical reading skills and familiarity with the key concepts and language of prehistoric and protohistoric archaeology, providing a solid foundation for engaging with current scholarship and debates.
Testi Adottati
ATTENDING STUDENTSThe required readings will be introduced, discussed, and assigned during the course, ensuring a targeted selection consistent with the topics covered in the program.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Non-attending students are required to contact the teacher to arrange a personalized study program, ensuring that they can achieve the course’s learning objectives even without participation in classroom activities.
Bibliografia Di Riferimento
NON_ATTENDING STUDENTS - Texts for the exam 3 books: Bietti Sestieri, A.M. 2018. L’ Italia nell’età del bronzo e del ferro: dalle palafitte a Romolo (2200-700 a. C.) 2a edizione. Roma: Carocci editore. Krause, J., & Trappe, T. 2020. Storia dell’umanità: per gente che va di fretta. Milano: il saggiatore. Renfrew, C., Bahn, P.G., & Gelichi, S. 2018. Archeologia: teoria, metodi e pratica 3. ed. italiana condotta sulla 7. ed. inglese. Bologna: Zanichelli. 3 articles(Open Access, copy-paste title on search engine): Earle, T., Ling, J., Uhnér, C., Stos-Gale, Z., & Melheim, L. 2015. The Political Economy and Metal Trade in Bronze Age Europe: Understanding Regional Variability in Terms of Comparative Advantages and Articulations. European Journal of Archaeology 18(4): p.633–657. Iacono, F. et al. 2021. Establishing the Middle Sea: The Late Bronze Age of Mediterranean Europe (1700-900 BC). Journal of Archaeological Research: p.371–445. Kristiansen, K. 2014. Towards a new paradigm? The Third Science Revolution and its Possible Consequences in Archaeology. Current Swedish Archaeology 22: p.11–34.