TOPOGRAPHY OF THE ANCIENT TERRITORY: SUPERFICIAL, COASTAL AND UNDERWATER AREAS

The course aims to impart advanced knowledge about the methodologies used in the research field of Ancient Topography, with particular reference to the classical world, in its articulations including the study of the anthropic organization of the territory, of urban and rural settlements and infrastructures, also insistent on the costal zone, both aerial and submerged.

 

The course, through lectures and program literature, aims to build advanced methodological skills in the use of literary, epigraphic, iconographic, cartographic, archaeological and monumental sources; in the recording, analysis and interpretation of ancient anthropic action on the territories by prospecting and surveying; in the knowledge of cartographic tools and methods of graphic, photographic and photogrammetric documentation.

 

Through the interactive implementation of the skills summarized above, the course stimulates the ability to analyse and synthesize anthropogenic traces on ancient territories. The comparison of these with the case studies in the literature develops in the attending student an aptitude for interpreting phenomena, in order to make him professionally suitable for their scientific evaluation.

 

The comparative examination of specialist literature and archaeological topographical evidence also constitutes a corpus of communication exempla; the statement by the teacher of the relative procedural and deontological criteria also lays the foundations for the ability to produce professional writings, both scientific and for other purposes, and of the relative specific expository skills: appropriate language, clarity of contents, methods of communication in its different forms.

 

The conception of the program includes manuals and specialist literature. The calibrated balance between these tools develops in the students both the necessary general skills and, on the other hand, the confidence with the criteria of the archaeological writing relating to a topographical subject. Learning is stimulated with the exercise of contextualising case studies in the broadest methodological framework of reference.

Classroom lectures and slide shows.

Attendance is not compulsory.

Methods and techniques of topographic research; sources; aerial and photographic prospecting; cartography. Land divisions. Ancient cartography. Rome: topography and monuments. Coastal ancient topography: Roman port construction; the port system of Rome, on the maritime front and in urban features.

G. Bonora, P.L. Dall’Aglio, S. Patitucci, G. Uggeri, La topografia antica, Bologna 2000: pp. 85-159, 193-241 (124).

F. Castagnoli, I più antichi esempi conservati di divisioni agrarie romane, (rist.) in F. Castagnoli, Topografia antica. Un metodo di studio, Roma 1993, II Italia: pp. 763-771 (9).

F. Castagnoli, Sulle più antiche divisioni agrarie romane, (rist.) in F. Castagnoli, Topografia antica. Un metodo di studio, Roma 1993, II Italia: pp. 805-821 (17).

F. Castagnoli, Gli edifici rappresentati in un rilievo del sepolcro degli Haterii, (rist.) in F. Castagnoli, Topografia antica. Un metodo di studio, Roma 1993, I Roma: pp. 131-146 (16).

F. Castagnoli, Lo Stadio di Domiziano raffigurato in una moneta di Settimio Severo, (rist.) in F. Castagnoli, Topografia antica. Un metodo di studio, Roma 1993, I Roma: pp. 159-161 (3).

F. Coarelli, Roma, Guide Archeologiche Laterza, Roma-Bari 2008: pp. 4-23 (mura); 24-43 (Campidoglio); 44-121 (Foro Romano); 122-155 (Fori imperiali); 156-195 (Palatino); 196-221 (Valle del Colosseo); 340-401 (Campo Marzio); 402-431 (Foro Olitorio- Foro Boario) (311).

E. Felici, in F. P. Arata, E. Felici, Porticus Aemilia, navalia o horrea ? Ancora sui frammenti 23 e 24 b-d della Forma Urbis, in Archeologia Classica 62, n.s. 1, 2011: pp. 137-148 (12).

E. Felici, Nos flumina arcemus, derigimus, avertimus. Canali, lagune, spiagge e porti nel Mediterraneo antico, Edipuglia, Bibliotheca Archaeologica 40, Bari 2016: pp. 57-80, (24).

E. Felici, Il porto di Claudio nei sesterzi di Nerone. Alcuni elementi iconografici, in Annali Istituto Italiano di Numismatica 63, 2017: pp. 387-396 (10).

E. Felici, Villae al mare, in Rivista di Topografia Antica 28, 2018: pp. 29-42 (14).

E. Felici, Il Rilievo Torlonia. Manifesto libertino del commercio marittimo, in L’archeologo subacqueo. Semestrale di archeologia subacquea e navale 70 n.s. 6, 2019: pp. 2-18 (17).

E. Felici, Trasporti navali di pietra, marmi e obelischi (Egitto, Grecia, Roma). Alcune riflessioni, in L’archeologo subacqueo 65, n.s. 1, 2017, pp. 2-15 (14).

E. Felici, Antium. Archeologia subacquea e Vitruvio nel porto di Nerone, Bari 2021: pp. 93-103, 130-189 (porti romani in cementizio) (71).

E. Felici, Lagune nel Mediterraneo antico. Materiali per un atlante, in L’archeologo subacqueo 75, 2023, pp. 55-119 (65).

E. Felici, La topografia antica litoranea. Origini, essenza, semantica e metodologia, in atti dell’VIII Congresso di Topografia antica (Ferrara 2023), Journal of Ancient Topography – Rivista di topografia antica 34, 2024, pp. 25-105.

F. Piccarreta, G. Ceraudo, Manuale di aerofotografia archeologica. Metodologie, tecniche e applicazioni, Bari 2000: pp. 34-45, 73-87, 99-133 (62).

E. Rodríguez Almeida, Formae Urbis Antiquae, Roma 2002 (74).

 

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).

The reference texts can be consulted in the Library. Some materials are also available on specialized web platforms and in any case, in compliance with current regulations, will be made available by the teacher on the digital platform STUDIUM.