Education

• Archaeology and Palaeoecology (UG)
• Geography (UG)
• Disability Officer

Module content

This module introduces students to the main techniques of archaeology as a discipline via the material culture of Ancient and Historic Rome, its interpretation and heritage, and its relevance to wider debates within archaeology and the modern world. Teaching is via 5 lectures, 5 seminars (weeks 1-10, Thursdays 2-4 pm) and a week-long fieldtrip to Rome in early late April/ early May 2012. We will cover Etruscan and Roman, early Christian, Medieval and Renaissance periods, emphasising the continuity of the cityscape and its associated archaeology. Student-led presentations will enable depth and focus of understanding to be developed of key aspects of Roman archaeology.

Lectures will provide a chronological backbone to the module, whilst seminars will discuss aspects of Roman material culture and identity. Practical aspects of the course will be explored via a fieldtrip to Rome, which will allow students to understand the archaeology of the Eternal City.

The fieldtrip to Rome not only engages historical and archaeological knowledge, but also enables students to practice their observational skills within a rich visual and historic environment and facilitate discussion of some of the themes explored earlier in the course. Students will be asked to prepare material to be presented and discussed on the fieldtrip. The aim is to engage interest, skills and apply these to a highly relevant historic city, where issues of heritage, ethics, public access and interpretation are all encountered.

Please note this module is capped to 40 students; priority will be given to Level 1 single honours students in Archaeology-Palaeoecology (BA, BSc), followed by Level 1 Joints in Ancient-History and Archaeology-Palaeoecology. Students must normally have been enrolled on at least 4 other Level 1 Archaeology/Palaeoecology modules in 2011-2012, including Historic Europe (ARP1003).

Lecturers

Dr Nicki Whitehouse (module coordinator)
Dr Caroline Malone

Field trip to Rome (24th April- 1st May 2012 (provisional))

Proposed itinerary:

Fly Belfast or Dublin-Rome, 7 days in Rome, Convent Hotel, Via Dandolo, Trastevere, Rome, visiting:

• Early Rome – Palatine Hill and Latium Rome, Neanderthal Rome, visit to EUR - Pigorini National Prehistory and Ethnographic Museum
• Etruscan Rome – Cerveteri Etruscan city and cemeteries; Tarquinia
• Republican Rome – Monuments, Capitoline Hill and Museum, Rome Museums, Forum Romanum
• Imperial Rome – Ostia Antica, Ara Pacis Augustae, Colosseum, Baths of Caracalla, Circus Maximus, Imperial Fora; Trajan’s markets, Arch of Constantine, Pantheon, the Palatine (House of Augustis, House of Livia), Domus Aurea (if open), other monuments, Visit to EUR – Rome Museum
• Christian Rome – Catacombs and the Appian Way, Trastevere, Santa Constanza and early churches in Rome; Cappucini Monks.
• Cultural Rome – Palazzo Borghese, Piazza Navona and other Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque monuments.

Rome Fieldtrip - April 2011 Feedback

Costs

The field trip (subsidised by the School) will incur a cost of £500 per person. This will pay for flights, accommodation (convent accommodation in Trastevere, 2-3 people sharing per room, en suite), breakfast and lunch roll, transfers/public transport in Rome and entry into monuments, but excludes evening meals and other food/refreshments, which students will have to pay directly. A deposit of £250 is requested during semester 1 (week 5), between 24-28th October 2011 in order to book flights, with a further £250 on in week 4 of Semester 2, between 20-24 February 2012. No refunds will be available once the School has booked flights.

Learning outcomes

• Broad understanding of Etruscan, Roman, Christian and later archaeology, its chronology, material culture; and continuity;
• Understanding of practical aspects of archaeological evidence in the field – artifacts, monuments and buildings in their landscape settings;
• Observational skills in the interpretation of monuments, buildings and artifacts.
• An understanding of the relevance of studying ancient civilisations, including how the past can be manipulated for the uses of the present;
• An awareness of some current debates within Roman archaeology and the ability to contribute to some of these debates;
• An awareness of heritage issues concerned with the Eternal City.

Assessment

Portfolio: 80% :(i) 2 site reports for fieldtrip [each worth 20%=40%] and (ii) Field Trip Notes and Records [40%]
Four Assessed Seminars: (20% each Seminar worth 5%)

Skills Taught

• Observation and interpretation of material culture in the field and landscape
• Discussion skills
• Preparation of site reports
• Presentation skills

Some Suggested Readings:

Beard, M. 2009. Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town(Paperback) Profile Books (Colledge Park 1, College Park Ground, DG70.P7/BEAR)

Claridge, A. 1998/2010. Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide(Oxford Archaeological Guides) Oxford Paperbacks (Short loan, DG62/CLAR)

Coarelli, F. 2007. Rome and environs. An archaeological guide. University of California Press, Berkley. (Short Loan DG62 COAR)

Potter, D. 2009. Rome in the Ancient World. From Romulus to Justinian. Thames and Hudson (Short Loan DG270 POTT)

Rome Fieldtrip Photos 2011

More photos in the Gallery Section