Università Roma Tre

This course gives you key theoretical approaches used to study material culture. Analysis of objects and materials is at the heart of archaeological practice, as well as museum curation and conservation. The aim is to explore questions such as how objects were made, used and valued by past societies. The course provides an overview of the current state of archaeological methodology of research on artefacts, such as pottery, metals, glass, stone, pigment and ecofacts. Emphasis will be given on issues of dating, production, manufacturing, technology, use and provenance.
You will explore environmental contexts and important conservation questions such as preservation and decay. You will investigate ancient technologies and crafts as a way of better understanding the properties of different materials and how objects and buildings were made and used with the application of archaeometric methodologies of research.

You will explore objects and materials from different periods and geographical contexts, giving you an insight into the archaeological record as well as developing skills for your future career.