The Internship offers experiential learning in the theories and methods of field excavation. Students will be included in a museum project at the Archaeology Study Collection of the American Academy in Rome working with archaeological materials including sculpture, terracotta figurines, coins, bronze objects, brick stamps, and architectural elements. These materials are in the process of being organized in a definitive museum environment and are currently being documented, categorized, and photographed according to modern museographic procedures and best practices. IES students have the unique opportunity of participating as interns on the project and to have a complete hands-on experience with archaeological material and documentation. Students also learn and apply methods for stratigraphic excavation, ceramic analysis, numismatic analysis, architectural construction materials and methods, data processing and documentation. The seminar provides the necessary framework to understand the processing of materials within the context of field archaeology and research. (3 credits)
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students are able to:
• understand and apply the theory behind stratigraphic excavation methods;
• distinguish different typologies of archaeological materials and their significance in stratigraphic contexts;
• produce archaeological documentation
• understand aspects of ancient Roman building practices and materials;
• know in detail all aspects of a major monument of Roman history and realize how its history can be understood through archaeological investigation.
• be familiar with the fundamental elements of field work that will enable them to continue studies in archaeology.
Method of presentation:
lectures, visual presentations, field studies, student presentations.
LANGUAGE OF PRESENTATION: English
Required work and form of assessment:
Participation and presentation (25%); journal and documentation (25%); final exam (25%); field supervisor evaluation (25%).
The course is structured around work at the American Academy in Rome (10 hrs./week) and an internship seminar (1.5 hr./week). Attendance is mandatory at the excavation and seminar.
Journal: students keep a daily journal in which they record their activities and compile written, graphic and photographic documentation of work at the placement.
Presentation: Students will identify a topic concerning aspects of their work and present it to the class alongside a written report.
content:
Week 1.
1- Introduction to field archaeology: general overview of the subject matter and its significance in studying ancient history.
Readings: Renfrew, Archaeology, ch. 1-2; Harris, Principles of Archaeological Stratigraphy, chs. 1-2.
Week 2.
1- Introduction to the principles of stratigraphy; theory of desposition; diversity of field methods
Week 3.
Modern excavation in the field: recognizing stratigraphic units; the “Harris matrix” and the interpretation of a stratigraphic sequence
Readings: Harris, Principles of Archaeological Stratigraphy, chs. 5-6; Renfrew, Archaeology, ch.3 - 4.
Week 4.
Procedures for documenting stratigraphic units: context sheets, photography, drawings, plans and cross sections
Readings: Harris, Principles of Archaeological Stratigraphy, ch. 3, ch. 7-11.
Week 5.
Roman construction techniques and materials 1
Mortar, faceing, brick and tile, stone, opus
Building walls, vaults and domes in poured concrete
Readings: Adam, Roman Building, chs. 1-3; Lancaster, Concrete Vaulted Construction in Imperial Rome, ch. 3-5.
Week 6.
Roman construction techniques and materials 2
The marble industry: marble, quarries, transportation and the production of architectural elements
Readings: Adam, Roman Building, ch. 2; Wilson Jones, Principles of Roman Architecture, ch. 10.
Field Study: Pantheon
Week 7.
Archaeological materials 1: architectural elements
From column base to acroteria: the architectural orders in Rome
Readings : Wilson Jones, Principles of Roman Architecture, chs. 5 - 7
Week 8.
Archaeological materials 2: ceramic analysis
Readings: Peña, Roman Pottery in the Archaeological Record, chs. 2-4.
Week 11.
Archaeological materials 5: field study
Capitoline Museums,
Week 12.
Review for the final exam
Final exam.
Required readings:
Adam, J.P., Roman Building. London, 2007.
Harris, E., Principles of archaeological stratigraphy. http://www.harrismatrix.com[2]
Keppie, L., Understanding Roman Inscriptions. 1991. London, 1991.
Lancaster, L.C., Concrete Vaulted Construction in Imperial Rome. Cambridge, 2005.
Renfrew, C., Bahn, P., Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice. London, 2008.
Wilson Jones, M., Principles of Roman Architecture. New Haven, 2003.
Mattingly, H., Roman Coins. London, 1986.
Peña, J.T., Roman Pottery in the Archaeological Record. Cambridge, 2007.
Recommended readings:
Favro, D., The Urban Image of Augustan Rome, Cambridge, 1996.
McDonald, The Architecture of the Roman Empire, New Haven, 1982.
Ward-Perkins, J.B., Roman Imperial Architecture, London, 2001.
Zanker, P., The Power of Images in the Age of Augustus, Ann Arbor, 1988.
Brief Biography of Instructor:
Gianni Ponti is an archaeologist specialized in Imperial Roman architecture. His studies and research focus on the use of marble in Roman construction. After earning a BA in Classics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Prof. Ponti obtained a Laurea in archaeology from the University of Rome. He has worked on several archaeological excavations in the Mediterranean, including Troy, Aphrodisias, the Imperial Fora in Rome and Leptis Magna. In Rome, he is a consultant to the Department of Antiquities. He is currently directing an American excavation at the Villa of Maxentius on the Via Appia Antica, as well as conducting architectural studies at Leptis Magna, Libya. He has published articles on marble carving techniques and Roman quarries.
Archaeological Excavation: Field Methods And Practice Internship & Seminar
The Internship offers experiential learning in the theories and methods of field excavation. Students will be included in a museum project at the Archaeology Study Collection of the American Academy in Rome working with archaeological materials including sculpture, terracotta figurines, coins, bronze objects, brick stamps, and architectural elements. These materials are in the process of being organized in a definitive museum environment and are currently being documented, categorized, and photographed according to modern museographic procedures and best practices. IES students have the unique opportunity of participating as interns on the project and to have a complete hands-on experience with archaeological material and documentation. Students also learn and apply methods for stratigraphic excavation, ceramic analysis, numismatic analysis, architectural construction materials and methods, data processing and documentation. The seminar provides the necessary framework to understand the processing of materials within the context of field archaeology and research. (3 credits)
By the end of the course, students are able to:
• understand and apply the theory behind stratigraphic excavation methods;
• distinguish different typologies of archaeological materials and their significance in stratigraphic contexts;
• produce archaeological documentation
• understand aspects of ancient Roman building practices and materials;
• know in detail all aspects of a major monument of Roman history and realize how its history can be understood through archaeological investigation.
• be familiar with the fundamental elements of field work that will enable them to continue studies in archaeology.
lectures, visual presentations, field studies, student presentations.
LANGUAGE OF PRESENTATION: English
Participation and presentation (25%); journal and documentation (25%); final exam (25%); field supervisor evaluation (25%).
The course is structured around work at the American Academy in Rome (10 hrs./week) and an internship seminar (1.5 hr./week). Attendance is mandatory at the excavation and seminar.
Journal: students keep a daily journal in which they record their activities and compile written, graphic and photographic documentation of work at the placement.
Presentation: Students will identify a topic concerning aspects of their work and present it to the class alongside a written report.
Week 1.
1- Introduction to field archaeology: general overview of the subject matter and its significance in studying ancient history.
Readings: Renfrew, Archaeology, ch. 1-2; Harris, Principles of Archaeological Stratigraphy, chs. 1-2.
Week 2.
1- Introduction to the principles of stratigraphy; theory of desposition; diversity of field methods
Week 3.
Modern excavation in the field: recognizing stratigraphic units; the “Harris matrix” and the interpretation of a stratigraphic sequence
Readings: Harris, Principles of Archaeological Stratigraphy, chs. 5-6; Renfrew, Archaeology, ch.3 - 4.
Week 4.
Procedures for documenting stratigraphic units: context sheets, photography, drawings, plans and cross sections
Readings: Harris, Principles of Archaeological Stratigraphy, ch. 3, ch. 7-11.
Week 5.
Roman construction techniques and materials 1
Mortar, faceing, brick and tile, stone, opus
Building walls, vaults and domes in poured concrete
Readings: Adam, Roman Building, chs. 1-3; Lancaster, Concrete Vaulted Construction in Imperial Rome, ch. 3-5.
Week 6.
Roman construction techniques and materials 2
The marble industry: marble, quarries, transportation and the production of architectural elements
Readings: Adam, Roman Building, ch. 2; Wilson Jones, Principles of Roman Architecture, ch. 10.
Field Study: Pantheon
Week 7.
Archaeological materials 1: architectural elements
From column base to acroteria: the architectural orders in Rome
Readings : Wilson Jones, Principles of Roman Architecture, chs. 5 - 7
Week 8.
Archaeological materials 2: ceramic analysis
Readings: Peña, Roman Pottery in the Archaeological Record, chs. 2-4.
Week 9.
Archaeological materials 3: numismatics
Readings : Mattingly, Roman Coins, chs. 2-4
Week 10.
Archaeological materials 4: inscriptions
Readings : Keppie, Understanding Roman Inscriptions, chs. 1-2
Week 11.
Archaeological materials 5: field study
Capitoline Museums,
Week 12.
Review for the final exam
Final exam.
Adam, J.P., Roman Building. London, 2007.
Harris, E., Principles of archaeological stratigraphy. http://www.harrismatrix.com [2]
Keppie, L., Understanding Roman Inscriptions. 1991. London, 1991.
Lancaster, L.C., Concrete Vaulted Construction in Imperial Rome. Cambridge, 2005.
Renfrew, C., Bahn, P., Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice. London, 2008.
Wilson Jones, M., Principles of Roman Architecture. New Haven, 2003.
Mattingly, H., Roman Coins. London, 1986.
Peña, J.T., Roman Pottery in the Archaeological Record. Cambridge, 2007.
Favro, D., The Urban Image of Augustan Rome, Cambridge, 1996.
McDonald, The Architecture of the Roman Empire, New Haven, 1982.
Ward-Perkins, J.B., Roman Imperial Architecture, London, 2001.
Zanker, P., The Power of Images in the Age of Augustus, Ann Arbor, 1988.
Gianni Ponti is an archaeologist specialized in Imperial Roman architecture. His studies and research focus on the use of marble in Roman construction. After earning a BA in Classics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Prof. Ponti obtained a Laurea in archaeology from the University of Rome. He has worked on several archaeological excavations in the Mediterranean, including Troy, Aphrodisias, the Imperial Fora in Rome and Leptis Magna. In Rome, he is a consultant to the Department of Antiquities. He is currently directing an American excavation at the Villa of Maxentius on the Via Appia Antica, as well as conducting architectural studies at Leptis Magna, Libya. He has published articles on marble carving techniques and Roman quarries.
2011