Archaeology and Cultures of the Ancient World

Second cycle graduates are skilled in the new methodologies and techniques of archaeology and in traditional historical,philological and artistic disciplines. Students of the 2nd cycle degree programme must have at least basic knowledge of the languages, cultures and histories of the Greek and Roman worlds, the Near East and at least one modern European language.

At the end of the two-year programme,graduates will have learned:

- advanced scientific, theoretical,methodological and practical knowledge of humanistic fields (specifically the classical languages, history and history of art in prehistoric, protohistoric,classic and post-classic eras, in the Mediterranean and middle-eastern areas)and skills in the use of ancient written sources;

- competences applied to the management and conservation of the archaeological heritage (excavation methodologies andtechniques, archaeological investigation, drawing, materials classification,museum promotion)

- knowledge of computing applied to archaeological contexts and skills in the use of computer tools and remote communication in specific areas (manual and instrumental topographical and architectural measurements, geophysical analysis etc.).

The wide range of course units andworkshops offers vocational training that is hard to match in the national context. Workshops are currently run in Thematic Cartography and the study ofvarious specific fields of Archaeology: here students are offered the chance toselect workshops focusing on materials (from the Bronze Age to the Late MiddleAges), measurement (topography, GIS, geophysics, remote sensing, investigationof decorative systems, landscape archaeology) and bioarchaeology(archaeobotany, zooarchaeology, physical anthropology).

The skills acquired during the degree programme allow graduates to use archaeological data processing methodologies to perform historical and cultural interpretations, participate in archaeological missions and international projects, also collaborating with competent public and private bodies working in the research and study,protection and enhancement of archaeological heritage, publishing and cultural information and communication activities.

In order to complete the two-year Master's programme in ARCHAEOLOGY AND CULTURES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD successfully, students are expected to have: - a good humanistic culture, which allows them to historically contextualize the concepts and information that will be obtained specifically from studying and carrying out research in archaeology. In particular, it is essential to have a good knowledge of the languages, cultures and histories of the ancient world, however acquired. - a basic knowledge of the archaeological method and its application in a specific regional and chronological context. In order to be admitted to the Master's degree programme, the access requirements (1) and assessment of personal competencies and skills (2) have to be met (1) The access requirements are as follows: A) Hold a degree in one of the following degree classes or an equivalent qualification, also obtained abroad: - pursuant to Italian Ministerial Decree 270/04: L-1 CULTURAL HERITAGE L-10 HUMANITIES L-42 HISTORY L- 43 CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE - pursuant to Italian Ministerial Decree 509/99 CLASS 13- CULTURAL HERITAGE STUDIES CLASS 5- HUMANITIES CLASS 38 HISTORY CLASS - 41 CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE B) have at least 20 credits in one or more of the following three subject areas directly related to the Two year Master degree: Archaeology and classic and medieval antiquity L-ANT/01 - Prehistory and protohistory L-ANT/04 - Numismatics L-ANT/05 - Papyrology L-ANT/06 - Etruscology and Italian antiquities L-ANT/07 - Classical archaeology L-ANT/08 - Christian and medieval archaeology L-ANT/09 - Ancient topography L-ANT/10 - Methodologies of archaeological research L-ART/01 - History of medieval art L-ART/04 - Museology, art and restoration criticism Technical, scientific and legal studies BIO/08 - Anthropology ICAR/06 -Topography and cartography ICAR/18 -History of architecture ICAR/19 - Restoration FIS/07 - Applied Physics (cultural heritage, the environment, biology and medicine) GEO/01 - Palaeontology and paleoecology GEO/11 - Applied geophysics CHIM/12 - Environmental and cultural heritage chemistry IUS/10 - Administrative law M-DEA/01 Demographic, ethnological and anthropological disciplines Archaeology and Oriental Antiquities L-OR/02 - Egyptology and Coptic CivilisationsL-OR/03 - Assyriology L-OR/05 - Archaeology and history of Near Eastern art L-OR/06 - Phoenician and Punic Archaeology L-OR/16 - Archaeology and History of Indian and Central Asian art L-OR/20 - Archaeology, Philosophy and History of East Asian Art C) have at least 5 credits in one or more of the following subject areas: Ancient and medieval history L-ANT/02 - Greek history L-ANT/03 - Roman history L-OR/01 - History of the ancient Near East M-STO/01 Medieval history M-STO/09 Palaeography D) at least 5 credits in one or more of the following subject areas: Ancient and Medieval languages and literature L-FIL-LET/01 - Aegean civilisations L-FIL-LET/02 - Greek language and literature L-FIL/LET/04 - Latin language and literature L-FIL-LET/05 - Classic philology L-FIL-LET/06 - Ancient Christian literature L-FIL-LET/07 - Byzantine civilisations L-FIL-LET/08 - Medieval and humanistic Latin literature Admission to the two-year Master's programme for graduates not meeting the above mentioned requirements is subject to an assessment of their level of knowledge and personal competencies and skills by a Commission, in the form of an interview, which then expresses an opinion as to their suitability. The Commission, appointed by the Master's Degree Programme Board, will establish a calendar for the interviews. Interviews will be held between September and December. (2) Assessment of personal competencies and skills Graduates who have obtained a degree with a grade of at least 80/110 will not be required to undergo a personal competencies and skills assessment. Admission to the two-year Master's programme for graduates with a grade of less than 80/110 is subject to assessment by the Board, which ascertains the curricular requirements are met through an interview. The two year Master's may hold a specific session for international students and appoint a commission to assess their competencies and skills, compatibly with the schedule envisaged in the call for applications for study grants (the deadline of which is indicatively in May). International students, who have obtained a positive assessment referred to in the previous point, are exonerated from the assessment of their personal competencies and skills, which is required for other candidates.