Laboratories are integral part of ACRA scientific training. These are aimed at offering in-depth, first-hand experience on activities crucial for conducting archaeological research in both professional and academic environments.
Laboratories are complementary learning activities that provide CFU eligible in the second year of the course, but attendance can be anticipated to the first one.
For students enrolled in A.Y. 2024/25
Students of English curriculum Applied Critical Archaeology and Heritage can apply also to laboratories of the Italian curriculum Archaeology and Cultures of the Ancient World (carried out mainly in Italian).
It is recommended a good level of Italian speaking.
For these laboratories visit this page.
Scientific directors: Claudio Cavazzuti
Period: to be defined in late May 2025
Type: in presence
Place: Bronze Age Archaeological site of Solarolo (RA) or Bronze Age site of Monte della Croce (BO)
Admitted students: 8
Mail: claudio.cavazzuti3@unibo.it
Aims: The laboratory introduces the subject of experimental archaeology and the potential of this approach for understanding prehistoric technologies, or aspects of territorial organization and mobility.
Program: The module include 2h of theoretical introduction, and two practical session, which will take place at the Bronze Age site of Solarolo (Ravenna) or at the Bronze Age site of Monte della Croce (Bologna), where student will be trained in performing the various phases of the chaîne opératoire related to Bronze Age technologies and the documentation protocol commonly used in archaeological experiments. In addition, the laboratory includes 30h of individual activities, to be programmed with the lab director.
Suggested readings:
Barbieri, Monia; Cavazzuti, Claudio; Pellegrini, Luca; Scacchetti, Federico (2015). Experiencing Visible and Invisible Metal Casting Techniques in Bronze Age Italy, Exarc Online Journal, https://exarc.net/issue-2015-3/ea/experiencing-visible-and-invisible-metal-casting-techniques-bronze-age-italy
Coles, John Morton (1979), Experimental archaeology, London: Academic Press
La Torre, Andrea; Mannino, Giulia; Zurzolo, Alice (2019). Fine Pottery Chaîne Opératoire from the Bronze Age site of Via Ordiere, Solarolo (RA, IT): Experiments on the Relationship between Surface Treatments and Function, Exarc Online Journal, https://exarc.net/issue-2020-1/ea/fine-pottery-chaine-operatoire
Mathieu, James R. (editor), (2002), Experimental archaeology, replicating past objects, behaviors and processes, BAR International Series 1035, Oxford
Paardekoper, Roeland, Reeves, Jody (2014). Experiments past. Histories of Experimental Archaeology, Sidestone Press.
Jody (2014). Experiments past. Histories of Experimental Archaeology, Sidestone Press.
Scientific Coordinator: Francesco Iacono, with the collaboration of dr. Francesca Porta
Period: January-June 2025 (lesson times to be defined)
Type: Both remote and in presence
Place: Department of History and cultures, Piazza S. Giovanni in Monte 2, Bologna
Admitted students: 8
Mail: francesco.iacono5@unibo.it; francesca.porta@unibo.it
Aims: Over the last few decades quantitative literacy has emerged as a key skill to be mastered for archaeology students. Aimed both at the study of survey and excavation record this laboratory will help you through the analysis of the material from the Roca Archaeological Survey project (any period from prehistory to today, https://site.unibo.it/paesaggi-mob-mem/it), and the Torre dell’Alto Project excavation (Bronze Age, https://site.unibo.it/medcoastlife/en )this laboratory, is aimed at teaching how to identify, quantify and interpret material data.
Program: The laboratory will be organized in a number of introductory theoretical lessons, some of which delivered remotely, which will precede an activity of primary material processing, to be carried out in person at the headquarters of S. Giovanni in Monte.
Suggested readings:
Banning, E.B., 2002. Archaeological Survey (Manuals in archaeological method, theory, and technique). New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. (Chapter IX)
Iacono, F., V. Spagnolo, W. De Neef& L. Coluccia, 2020. Roca ArchaeologicalSurvey: Inquadramento e primissimi risultati, FOLD&R ArchaeologicalSurvey Series 2020(13), 1–14. (www.fastionline.org/docs/FOLDER-sur-2020-13.pdf)
Iacono, F., Fiorini, A., Agostini, G., Ceccato, Z., Favaron, S., 2023. Torre dell’Alto (Nardò, Lecce): un primo inquadramento. FOLD&R 1–17. (https://cris.unibo.it/retrieve/handle/11585/935936/da439107-ad77-4f3b-8c15-820303517212/FOLDER-it-2023-562.pdf )
Shennan, S., 1997. Quantifying Archaeology, 2nd edition. ed. Edinburgh University Press.
Scientific director: Prof. Nicolò Marchetti, in collaboration with Dr. Gabriele Giacosa e Dr. Valentina Gallerani
Period: 15-16/01/2025, 22-23-24/01/2025, 27/02/2025
Attendance: In presence
Place: Department of History and Cultures, Piazza S. Giovanni in Monte 2, Bologna, Aula Morandi
Admitted students: 15
Contacts: nicolo.marchetti@unibo.it; gabriele.giacosa3@unibo.it; gallerani.vale@gmail.com.
Aims: The aims of the pottery digitization laboratory consist in:
Program: The laboratory consists of ca. 25 hours of frontal lessons including theoretical and practical activities and ca. 25 hours of individual activities which will allow the students to apply the digital tools and methods for the digitization and publication of ceramic material, as learned and preliminarily tested during the frontal lessons.
Theoretical module: This module is included in the 25 hours of frontal lessons, and it will be carried out during the first half of each lesson. Students will be provided with a comprehensive knowledge on how to carry out a complete analysis of ceramic material (from post-excavation organisation to the study of morphology and fabrics, to publication). To this end, published and ongoing studies on the material culture of the Middle Euphrates Valley and Northern Mesopotamia spanning from the Bronze Age (2000-1600 BCE) to the Hellenistic and Roman period (330 BCE-250 CE) will be taken as reference.
Practical module: This module is included in the 25 hours of frontal lessons, and it will be carried out during the second half of each lesson. In addition, this module includes the approximately 25 hours of individual activity. During the lessons, participants will be introduced the use of tools and software useful for the documentation and digitization of ceramic material, in particular the open-source software Inkscape for the digitisation of ceramic drawings and Scribus for the layout of graphic content for publication. Then, the following 25 hours of individual activity will consist in the digitisation of 65 ceramic fragments per participant, relating to the periods and contexts mentioned during the lessons.
At the end of the laboratory, students will have acquired a complete framework of the multiple methodological steps in the analysis of material data and an in-depth knowledge of open-source tools for digitizing and publishing ceramic documentation. By learning these features, students will acquire an important professional skill which is nowadays highly requested in the field of archaeological research, especially for scientific and editorial purposes.
Suggested readings:
HUNT, A. 2016. The Oxford Handbook of Archaeological Ceramic Analysis, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
ORTON, C., HUGHES, M., 1993. Pottery in Archaeology, Cambridge, University Press.
RICE, P., 1987. Pottery Analysis. A Sourcebook, Chicago, University Press.
Scientific Director: Isabella Baldini, with the collaboration of G. Bargossi, C. Lamanna, and Giulia Marsili
Period: 3-10 February 2025, 9.30-13.30
Type: in presence
Place: Department of History and cultures, Piazza S. Giovanni in Monte 2, Bologna; BIGEA, Piazza porta san Donato.
Admitted students: 10
Mail: isabella.baldini@unibo.it; giulia.marsili2@unibo.it
Objectives: The workshop aims to teach both the theoretical and practical aspects of studying ancient stone materials, covering both petrographic and archaeological perspectives—from excavation to publication (cataloging, graphic and photographic documentation, surveying, and petrographic characterization). Practical exercises will be conducted using archaeological material from the Via d’Azeglio excavation in Ravenna, with direct surveying experiences in Bologna and Ravenna.
Program: The first section of the workshop focuses on the petrographic study of stone materials. It provides students with the fundamental knowledge related to rock characterization and the types of scientific analyses applied to ancient materials for lithotype identification. Students will have the opportunity to observe and analyze thin sections made from the stone materials of Via d’Azeglio.
The second section, with an archaeological focus, consists of lectures and practical exercises. The lectures provide students with fundamental knowledge about stoneworking techniques, from quarrying to installation, and about the types of architectural and liturgical furnishings used in antiquity, using digital resources to illustrate tools and artisanal practices. Through hands-on exercises, students will acquire skills in traditional drawing techniques, digital surveying, and photographic documentation of artifacts.
The workshop includes approximately 25 hours of collective practical activities and 25 hours of individual work. This allows students to apply the methods of documentation, cataloging, drawing, and photographing artifacts learned during the sessions.
By the end of the workshop, students will have acquired the fundamental methodology for studying ancient stone artifacts. This includes manual drawing skills, recognizing traces of workmanship, identifying lithotypes through petrographic analysis, and historically and archaeologically contextualizing the artifacts.
Suggested readings:
Gnoli R., Marmora romana, Roma 1989.
Borghini G. (a cura di), Marmi Antichi I, Roma 1989.
Pensabene P., Marmi antichi II: cave e tecnica di lavorazione, provenienze e distribuzione, Roma 1998.
De Nuccio M., Ungaro L., Pensabene P., Lazzarini L. (a cura di), I marmi colorati della Roma imperiale, Venezia 2002.
Del Bufalo D., Marmi colorati: le pietre e l'architettura dall'antico al barocco, Roma 2003.
Lazzarini L., Pietre e marmi antichi: natura, caratterizzazione, origine, storia d'uso, diffusione, collezionismo, Padova 2004.
Lazzarini L., Pisa 2007.PoikiloiLithoi, Versiculores Maculae. I marmi colorati della Grecia antica: storia, uso, diffusione, cave, geologia.
Scientific directors: Enrico Giorgi e Cristiano Putzolu
Period: 26-30 May 2025, 9.30 – 13.30
Type: frontal lesson
Place: Dipartimento di Storia Culture Civiltà, Piazza S. Giovanni in Monte 2, Bologna
Admitted students: 20
Mail: enrico.giorgi@unibo.it; cristiano.putzolu@unibo.it
Aims: the workshop is aimed at training basic skills in topographic and archaeological surveying. It offers theoretical knowledge on the main surveying operations and intends to develop practical skills on the techniques of traditional direct surveying, the use of technical instrumentation (optical level and total station), and provides the first rudiments on the techniques of photo-modeling, photo-rectification and graphic processing.
Program: The laboratory consists of about 20 hours of practical activities carried out collectively in the Topography Laboratory (for processing) and en plein air inside the Department (for exercises) through which students will acquire the following practical skills:
The educational course will be completed with an additional 5 hours of individual activity that can also be carried out remotely assisted or in the Topography Laboratory itself. At the end of the lab, students will have acquired the knowledge of the basic methodology in direct surveying (trilateration and manual surveying, drawing of wall structures), instrumental surveying (topographic surveying with the total station and the use of the optical level) and photogrammetric surveying.
Bibliografia:
in particolare, le parti:
Suggested readings
Scientific director: Cristiano Putzolu
Period: each Tuesday from 1.30 to 5.30 PM from 14th January to 29th April 2025
Type: in presenza/ frontal lesson
Place: Laboratorio di Topografia del Dipartimento di Storia Culture Civiltà, Piazza S. Giovanni in Monte 2, Bologna
Admitted students:
Email: cristiano.putzolu@unibo.it
Aims: DiSCi has several field investigation projects (excavations and fieldwalking surveys) that involve the use of survey methodologies or data analysis typical of digital archaeology, which for various reasons (to optimise data acquisition work in the field, for the impossibility of bringing the necessary hardware on the mission, for lack of time to train students in post-excavation data processing procedures, etc.) often do not see the post-processing phase directly on the ground.
Operations such as the processing of photogrammetric surveys, the vectorialisation of orthophotomodels in a GIS environment, and data-entry in databases therefore often become operations that are postponed to a later date before leaving for a new campaign.
The aim of the digital archaeology workshop is the digital training of the DiSCi students who participate in the excavation or survey activities promoted by colleagues in the Department by processing the data they themselves have helped to collect in the field (learning by doing).
At the same time, it is aimed at those who need to use digital archaeology methodologies for their thesis work.
In order to meet the diverse needs of the different participants, the workshop will not have a programme but will take the form of an open space (on Tuesdays from 1.30 to 5.30 p.m.) in which everyone knows they have a space where they can bring their case study and proceed with their thesis work or they can experience post-processing techniques on what they have helped to collect during the survey campaigns.
An attendance register will help keep track of the number of hours accumulated by each student so that the certificate of attendance can then be issued.
Program: at the end of the workshop, each participant will have had direct experience of the contribution of digital archaeology to the knowledge production process in an archaeological project and will at the same time have made progress in their thesis work or contributed to the implementation of the project in which they were involved in the fieldwork phase.
Bibliography:
Dell’Unto N., Landeschi G. 2022, Geographical information systems in archaeology, in Dell’Unto N., Landeschi G. - Archaeological 3D GIS, pp. 5-17
Wheatley D., Gillings M. 2002, Spatial Technology and Archaeology. The archaeological applications of GIS, Capitoli 1-3, pp. 1-78.
Manuale utente di Qgis, https://docs.qgis.org/3.22/it/docs/user_manual/
Suggested readings:
Dell’Unto N., Landeschi G. 2022, Geographical information systems in archaeology, in Dell’Unto N., Landeschi G. - Archaeological 3D GIS, pp. 5-17
Wheatley D., Gillings M. 2002, Spatial Technology and Archaeology. The archaeological applications of GIS, Chapters 1-3, pp. 1-78.
Qgis User Guide: https://docs.qgis.org/3.22/en/docs/user_manual/
Scientific supervisor: Prof. Laura Ramona Demeter
Period: dates to be defined
Delivery mode: on line
Admitted students: 10
e-mail: lauraramona.demeter@unibo.it
Aims: the lab aims at introducing students to current existing schemes for funding cultural projects and academic research. The focus will be on identifying the appropriate schemes for funding at the EU level (H2020, COST Action, CoE) and how to prepare such applications.
Program: The course will provide an overview of the necessary steps for developing your proposal, how to conduct research, how to keep informed about grant opportunities, how to search for hosting institutions, and on the important steps of writing the application.
The course consists of a series of short lectures and exercises, focused on the following main objectives: Grant writing basics, How to write a grant proposal, Searching for Funding.
Outcomes: Learn basic principles of effective grant writing; Explore how to conduct internet research; Identify potential funding schemes for future career development.
Scientific supervisor: Francesco Iacono, with the collaboration of Dr. Giulia Maria Marcolli
Period: January-June 2025 (lesson times to be defined)
Type: Both remote and in presence
Place: Department of History and cultures, Piazza S. Giovanni in Monte 2, Bologna
Admitted students: 8
Mail: francesco.iacono5@unibo.it; giuliamaria.marcolli@unibo.it
Aims: The relationship between archaeologists and the public has become a central concern of contemporary archaeological research. This involves both the process of engaging with communities, and the development of an effective communication strategy, a toolset that has become an unavoidable skill for fostering public engagement.
Through several sessions and individual work, this laboratory will try to provide students with a first introduction to these themes. Starting from recent experiences, the laboratory will introduce the techniques related to how to liaise with a community on the ground (through methods such as questionnaires, interviews and participant observation) as well as how to build up a communication plan on archaeological research (concerned with things such as how to choose the right communication channels – from social media, to podcasts, to more traditional channels such as print media ) with the aim of engaging with different audiences and raise awareness of archaeological research and related knowledge. As of the last point, students will understand how communication strategies work and critically evaluate the messages they carry and to which targets.
At the end of the course, participants will be able to create a communication plan for a specific cultural project (e.g., related to an archaeological site or a museum) and apply the learned social media strategy in a concrete way.
Program: The laboratory will be organized in a number of introductory theoretical lessons, some of which delivered remotely, which will precede an activity of primary material processing, to be carried out in person at the headquarters of S. Giovanni in Monte.
Suggested readings: Bonacchi C. 2012, Archaeology and Digital Communication. Towards Strategies of Public Engagement, Archetype Publications.
Clack T., Brittain M. 2007, Archaeology and the Media, Routledge.
Colombo M.E. 2020, Musei e cultura digitale, Editrice Bibliografica.
Giaccardi E. 2012, Heritage and Social Media. Understanding heritage in a participatory culture, Routledge.
Mandarano N. 2019, Musei e digital media, Carrocci editore.
Visser J., Richardson J. 2013, The Digital Engagement Framework [Accessed June 2022] https://issuu.com/sumodesign/docs/digital-engagement-booklet
Walker D. 2014, Antisocial media in archaeology?, Archaeological Dialogues, 21(2), 217-235. doi:10.1017/S1380203814000221.
Further texts, videos and podcasts will be added during the laboratory.
Attendance request laboratories 24.25
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