TOPARC - TOPOGRAPHY AND ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL LANDSCAPE

courses

ID:

TOPARC

Duration (hours):

42

CFU:

SSD:

ARCHEOLOGIA CRISTIANA E MEDIEVALE

Located in:

CHIETI

Url:

Course Details:

CULTURAL HERITAGE/ARCHEOLOGIA Year: 1

Year:

2025

Course Catalogue:

https://unich.coursecatalogue.cineca.it/af/2025?co...

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (01/10/2025 - 31/01/2026)

Course Objectives

The course contributes to achieving the learning objectives of the Degree Programme in Cultural Heritage by providing students with critical and methodological tools for the analysis of historical landscapes and settlement dynamics over the long term, from antiquity to the Middle Ages.
Adopting an integrated approach that combines the study of archaeological, historical, and cartographic sources with the use of digital technologies for spatial analysis (GIS, remote sensing, photogrammetry), the course aims to develop competencies relevant to the investigation, documentation, and enhancement of archaeological heritage across the territory.
The course structure aligns with the professional profiles envisaged by the Degree Programme and provides a solid foundation for careers in research, communication, and education in the field of cultural heritage.
Expected Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:Knowledge

Understand the basic concepts of topography and landscape archaeology in ancient and medieval contexts.

Identify the main sources used to study historical landscapes (archaeological, historical, and cartographic).

Acquire a basic understanding of field survey techniques and their application in archaeological research.
Skills

Recognize and describe key forms of territorial organization and settlement patterns in antiquity and the Middle Ages.

Understand the role of sources and territorial data in reconstructing historical landscapes.

Read and interpret basic cartographic and topographic materials under guided instruction.
Competences

Perform simple descriptive analyses of case studies related to landscape archaeology, using course-provided materials.

Collaborate in introductory activities focused on the documentation and interpretation of archaeological landscapes in educational and outreach contexts.

Produce short written or visual summaries (e.g. simplified maps, descriptive sheets) based on data and sources presented in class.
Transversal skills (Dublin Descriptors A4.c)

Begin to develop independent judgment in interpreting historical landscapes.

Communicate acquired knowledge clearly and accurately, both in written and visual forms.

Strengthen autonomous learning skills and the ability to process interdisciplinary content.

Course Prerequisites

To successfully follow the course, it may be helpful to have general knowledge of history and geography acquired during secondary school education, particularly regarding the historical periodization from antiquity to the Middle Ages.
No specific prerequisites are required, and there are no formal prerequisite courses.

Teaching Methods

Teaching is delivered primarily through classroom lectures, supported by multimedia materials and case study presentations aimed at introducing students to the analysis of historical landscapes from an archaeological and topographic perspective.
The course also includes guided practical exercises involving the reading and interpretation of cartographic sources and territorial data, as well as an introduction to basic digital tools.
The teaching activities may also include educational visits to archaeological sites or museums, in order to strengthen direct understanding of settlement dynamics and documentation methods.
All activities are designed to encourage active learning and stimulate student participation, in line with the course objectives.

Assessment Methods

The final assessment will take the form of an oral exam, aimed at verifying the student’s understanding of the course content, the skills acquired, their ability to think critically, and their use of discipline-specific terminology.
The interview will cover the entire syllabus and may include the analysis and discussion of images and archaeological contexts.
During the oral examination, students will be expected to:

demonstrate a solid understanding of the core topics covered in the course, with particular reference to the concepts of landscape, territory, settlement, and the main types of sources and analytical tools;

organize the acquired knowledge in a coherent and structured manner, showing the ability to connect different themes, case studies, and methodologies;

critically discuss examples or issues presented, including through the guided interpretation of cartographic sources;

communicate clearly and effectively, using appropriate specialist vocabulary.

The final grade will be expressed on a thirty-point scale (minimum passing grade: 18/30; maximum grade: 30/30 with honours).
The assessment criteria are as follows:

Knowledge of course content (up to 12 points)

Critical thinking and ability to make connections across topics (up to 10 points)

Clarity of presentation and use of technical terminology (up to 8 points)

The final grade is determined by the sum of the partial scores.
Optional supplementary activities (e.g., exercises, short papers, additional readings) may be taken into account as part of the overall evaluation, in agreement with the instructor. However, they are not mandatory and do not replace the final exam.
The assessment methods are consistent with the expected learning outcomes and are designed to identify varying levels of competence and autonomy achieved by students.

Texts

• L. QUILICI, S. QUILICI GIGLI, Introduzione alla topografia antica, Il Mulino, Bologna 2004, pp. 80-160.• F. CAMBI (a cura di), Manuale di archeologia dei paesaggi. Metodologie, fonti, contesti, Roma 2011 (1^ ristampa, 2015), pp. 31-198.• L. MIGLIORATI, s.v. Distribuzione degli spazi e delle funzioni, in P. Sommella et alii, Dai primi insediamenti al fenomeno urbano. Mondo etrusco-italico e romano, Il Mondo dell’archeologia I, Roma 2002, pp. 819-820• M. S. BUSANA, C. FORIN, Ville e fattorie romane nell’Italia settentrionale: aspetti tipologici e funzionali, OTIVM, 4, 2018, pp. 32, art. 2 http:// www.otium.unipg.it/otium/article/view/55.• S. BERTOLDI, G. CASTIGLIA, A. CASTRORAO BARBA, C. MENGHINI, Soundscape and catchment analysis for a spatial geography of medieval monastic estates in southeastern Tuscany (11th-12th centuries), Archeologia e Calcolatori, 33.2 (2022), pp. 95-114. • S. ANTONELLI et alii, A diachronic multi-source approach to the study of a historical landscape in Central-Western Europe: the Blies Survey Project, in GROMA, 6 (2021), pp. 76-105.
All texts referred to above will be accessible via Moodle
Supplementary readings to develop skills will be provided during the course.

Part One. 1. Human Presence and the Landscape in Antiquity and the Middle Ages: Conceptual Tools and Working Methods
Introduction to Topography and Landscape Archaeology

Definitions and Theoretical Approaches
History of Research and Recent Methodological Developments

Concept of Territory and Spatial Organization

Cultural Landscapes and Organizational Structures
City/Countryside Relationships; Settlement Models

Sources for the Study of the Ancient Landscape

Archaeological and Historical Sources
Ancient and Medieval Cartographic Sources

Tools for Topographic and Territorial Investigation

Archaeological Field Survey: Intensive and Extensive Methods
Technologies for Spatial Analysis: GIS, Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry, Drones
Environmental Data Analysis

Case Studies

Landscape Archaeology Projects in Italy and Europe

Part Two. 2. Material Structures and Functions in Urban and Rural Settlements from Antiquity to the Middle Ages: Outlines and Dynamics
Settlement Typologies and Their Evolution

Rural Settlements (Farms, Villae, Villages)
Urban Settlements and Secondary Agglomerations

Structural and Infrastructural Elements

Road Networks and Landing Places
Fortifications, Public and Religious Buildings, Domestic Habitats

Territorial Economy and Resources

Exploitation of Natural Resources (Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Extraction) and Circulation of Goods

Continuity and Discontinuity between Antiquity and the Middle Ages

Settlement Transformation Dynamics (Depopulation, Reoccupation, Reorganization)

Case Studies

Diachronic Examples of Urban and Rural Sites in Italy and Europe

Course Language

Italian

More information

The lecturer holds office hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. during the teaching period.Outside the teaching semester, the lecturer is available on Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
For any communication, students may contact the instructor by email at: sonia.antonelli@unich.it.