Teaching code

4S008828

Teacher

Anita Casarotto

Coordinator

Anita Casarotto

Credits

3

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

L-ANT/01 - PREHISTORY AND EARLY HISTORY

Period

Sem 2B dal Apr 6, 2020 al May 30, 2020.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this workshop, students will have acquired:
- Knowledge of a range of GIS tools for the spatial analysis of archaeological and environmental data;
- Hands-on experience with state-of-the-art GIS techniques in spatial analysis, with a particular focus on predictive modelling;
- Ability to identify the assumptions that underlie spatial approaches, their advantages and limits;
- Ability in critically assessing research publications and reports;
- Self-confidence and initiative in problem-solving;
- Ability to select and apply the most suitable techniques to tackle specific research questions;
- Step-by-step experience in performing an assessment of areas of archaeological potential;
- Ability to gain insight into pre-protohistoric settlement strategies based on detected spatial correlations and patterns;
- Ability to predict archaeological site locations;
- Familiarity with both vector and raster data;
- Ability to make distribution maps in GIS, which will be useful in the future for their own research (e.g. bachelor/master thesis);
- Knowledge of digital archiving principles, resource discovery and metadata.

Program

Lessons will be held on:
Monday: 15.40-17.20;
Tuesday: 11.50-13.30.
Starting from Monday 20th April until Monday 18th May 2020.

After an introduction to wide-ranging theoretical issues in spatial archaeology, this course provides a detailed analysis at the forefront of knowledge of several techniques within spatial archaeology, with an in-depth treatment of GIS-based predictive modelling for pre-protohistoric archaeology based on survey data.

The following topics will be covered:
- History and theoretical debate in spatial analysis in landscape archaeology
- GIS and map algebra
- Statistics for spatial analysis
- Pattern analysis
- Visibility analysis
- Cost path analysis
- Site location analysis
- Land evaluation analysis
- Predictive modelling
- Agent-based modelling
- Remote sensing and LiDAR
- Open-access online repositories of archaeological and environmental data in Europe

Students will delve into the pros and cons of different spatial ways of analysing, visualizing and understanding sets of archaeological and environmental data by studying first-hand literature and practice in different case studies (indicated during the class). A large part of this literature is in English.

Prerequisites:
a) the course is targeted towards students who already have a basic knowledge in landscape archaeology, survey methods, geography, cartography, GIS and prehistory-protohistory. Students are expected to have already attended the course “Metodologia della ricerca archeologica”.
b) Proficiency in reading texts in English.

Mode of instruction:
The mode of instruction will be a series of lectures, seminars with open discussions, and practical GIS workshops, combined with extensive autonomous study of current literature on GIS spatial analysis, as well as case studies.

Examination Methods

The exam is in oral format.
[Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and in accordance with the University of Verona guidelines, during ​the 2020 summer session the assessment modality will be: online oral exam]

- The student chooses a spatial technique and prepares a PowerPoint presentation (15-minute talk in Italian or in English). Following the presentation there will be questions from the teacher and the audience, on both the selected technique and the other spatial techniques explained during the course, and how to apply them to the selected case-studies. During the exam, the student engages orally in debate with the teacher and the class.

- Exam questions can be practical and theoretical. The student can communicate the chosen topic of the presentation beforehand, and discuss with the teacher the selection of case-studies and articles to study.

- the exam aim is to test a) the student’s knowledge of both theoretical frameworks and technical aspects of spatial approaches, b) the student’s ability to critically select spatial approach to tackle a research question.

Considering the interactive format of this course and exam, attendance is strongly recommended (min. 70% attendance is necessary to undertake the final exam). The students who wish to attend this laboratory should send an email to the teacher indicating their name, surname and identification number.


Material to study for the exam:
a) Notes and PowerPoint presentations of the teacher’s lectures.
b) Verhagen, P. 2018. Spatial Analysis in Archaeology: Moving into New Territories. In Siart, C., Forbriger, M., & Bubenzer, O (eds.) Digital Geoarchaeology, 11-25. Springer
c) De Guio, A. 2015. Nuove linee di ricerca fra archeologia pre-dittiva e post-dittiva. Archeologia e Calcolatori 26, 301-313.
d) Leonardi, G. 1992. Assunzione e analisi dei dati territoriali in funzione della valutazione della diacronia e delle modalità del popolamento. In M. Bernardi (ed.), Archeologia del Paesaggio, 25 - 66. Firenze: All'Insegna del Giglio.
e) Wheatley, D. 2004. Making space for an archaeology of place, Internet archaeology 15 (14 pages)
f) about 80 pages of book chapters communicated during the class (esp. in English).
g) 3 scientific articles among those indicated during class.
h) at least 3 articles independently selected by the student (excluding those ones indicated during class) he/she will use for the PowerPoint presentation.