Petrography for cultural heritage
Academic Year 2023/2024 - Teacher: Paolo MAZZOLENIExpected Learning Outcomes
The course has the declared aim to provide the adequate knowledge to the study of mortars, ceramics and rocks used in cultural heritage.
Based on the Dublin descriptors the objectives of the course are:
Knowledge and understanding. Provide students with the necessary knowledge for the recognition and description of the mineralogical and petrographic characteristics of natural and artificial lithic materials (mortars and ceramics)
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding in order to: 1) interpret petrographic data in order to understand the aspects related to their use in cultural heritage through examples of common interest; 2) knowledge of analytical methods for the study of natural and artificial stone materials.
Autonomy of judgment. Develop in students a critical approach to petrographic and mineralogical data and their contribution to archaeological studies.
Communication skills. To provide students with the ability to understand and communicate petrographic concepts applied to archaeology.
Learning skills. Develop autonomy in the study of minero-petrographic data applied to cultural heritage.
Course Structure
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Introduction:
- The petrographic study applied to cultural heritage.
Lithic materials:
- Mineralogical, compositional and structural features
- Classification of common rocks used in cultural heritage.
- Provenance of the main rocks used in antiquity.
Ceramics:
- Petrographic and mineralogical characteristics of ceramics.
- The microscopic description of ancient pottery and their classification.
- The raw materials.
- The production processes.
Mortars:
- Petrographic and mineralogical characteristics
- Processes for the production of binders and technological evolution.
Notes on the petrographic characteristics of glass and metal.
Textbook Information
Files and Power Point lecture notes
For not attending students will be provided lecture notes
For further details :
- Cuomo di Caprio N. La ceramica in archeologia, 2: antiche tecniche di lavorazione e moderni metodi di indagine. L'Erma di Bretschneider, 2007.
- Lazzarini L. Pietre e Marmi Antichi. CEDAM, 2004.
- Rice P. Pottery Analysis: A Sourcebook. University of Chicago Press, 2006
Course Planning
Subjects | Text References | |
---|---|---|
1 | introduction to petrography applied to cultural heritage | |
2 | elements of mineralogy | |
3 | the more important features of minerals | |
4 | elements of petrography | |
5 | structures and composition of the more important magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks | |
6 | the raw materials for the pottery production | |
7 | the processes for the pottery production | |
8 | methodology for the mineralogical and chemical analysis of pottery | |
9 | interpretation of archaeometric data | |
10 | the mortars | |
11 | laboratory of the petrographic study of pottery | |
12 | laboratory of the mineralogical and chemical methods |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Final oral exam.
The student must show adequate knoledge of the scientific method of investigation and data analysis techniques.
These skills will also be verified through the discussion on specific issues dealt with during the lessons based on scientific articles provided by the teacher.
The assessment of the exam will take into account the knoledge of the contents and skills acquired, linguistic accuracy and lexical properties, as well as the argumentative ability demonstrated by the candidate.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
the raw materials of ceramics
the raw materials of mortars
petrographic description of pottery
differences between minerals and rocks