Classical archaeology
The object of research in classical archaeology is the Greco-Roman culture of the
Mediterranean area, its artefacts and stationary remains. Geographically, the core
areas are modern Greece and Italy, whose cultural sphere of influence varied from
period to period. In the East, it included the Hellenistic kingdoms and the Early
Byzantine world; in the West, the entire Roman empire of the imperial period. Due
to its broad scope, classical archaeology can be approached from many viewpoints
according to both the specific period and place and the nature of the object under
investigation.
Basic and intermediate level studies can be completed in classical archaeology.
The purpose of basic level studies is to give a general picture of classical
archaeology as a discipline as well as ancient history, mythology and art history
and their subdivisions. The purpose of intermediate level studies is to deepen the
student’s knowledge of the material culture and stationary remains of the ancient
world, shed light on theoretical approaches and foster various practical skills as well
as the carrying out of independent research. If a student chooses to take classical
archaeology as the major subject of his or her Bachelor of Arts degree and wishes
to continue his or her studies by specializing in classical archaeology in the
advanced level studies of Greek language and literature or Latin language and
Roman literature, he or she must have first completed the minor subject studies of
the subject in question.
As a minor subject classical archaeology is suitable, apart from students majoring in
classical philology, to students of archaeology, general history and art history as well as
others, owing to its generally educational and international nature. Instruction in classical
archaeology is given by the instructor responsible for the subject. Students of classical
philology are examined in literature specifically agreed upon or participate in
compensatory instruction, such as a basic course in art history or archaeology, if in their
philological studies they have already been examined in the literature of some of the study
units. Alternative literature and topics are agreed upon with the examiner well ahead
of the examination.
Dar100 Basic level studies (25 ECTS)
Complete DAY110 and DAY120. If these have already been completed as part of
another study module, complete DAY220 and DAY230.
DAY110 Ancient history and mythology (5 ECTS)
P. Castrén, Uusi antiikin historia or Freeman, Egypt, Greece and Rome: Civilizations of
the Ancient Mediterranean, 2. edition, pp. 121-563 and R. Buxton, The Complete World
of Greek Mythology.
DAY120 Ancient literary history (5 ECTS)
S. Kivistö & H.K. Riikonen & E. Salmenkivi & R. Sarasti-Wilenius, Kirjallisuus antiikin
maailmassa.
DAY220 Ancient religion (5 ECTS)
W. Burkert, Greek Religion, chapters I-VI (approx. 300 p.) and either T.P.Wiseman,
The Myths of Rome or M.-L. Hänninen & M. Kahlos & U. Lehtonen, Uskonnot antiikin
Roomassa.
DAY230 Ancient art history II (5 ECTS)
To be agreed upon with the examiner.
Dar110 Introduction to classical archaeology (5 ECTS)
W.R. Biers, Art, Artefacts and Chronology in Classical Archaeology and S.L. Dyson, In
pursuit of ancient pasts: A history of classical archaeology in the nineteenth and
twentieth centuries and B. Bäbler, Archäologie und Chronologie. Eine Einführung. As for
Finnish terminology and nomenclature, the student is recommended to use as an aid
the work P. Castrén - L. Pietilä-Castrén, Antiikin käsikirja, as well as a suitable atlas of
the ancient world.
Dar140 The sources of classical archaeology (5 ECTS)
C. Gates, Ancient Cities. The Archaeology of Urban Life in the Ancient Near East and
Egypt, Greece and Rome (2. edition), pp. 1-10, 118-137, 203-413 and T. Hölscher,
Klassische Archäologie. Grundwissen, pp. 175-336 and C.W. Hendrick, Ancient History.
Monuments and Documents or F.H. Thompson, The Archaeology of Greek and Roman
Salvery.
Dar150 Art history (5 ECTS)
J. Boardman (ed.), The Oxford History of Classical Art.
Dar200 Intermediate level studies (50 ECTS)
Complete Day210. If it has been completed as part of another study module,
complete one of the study units Dar221-240 for 5 ECTS. To be agreed upon
separately with the examiner.
Day210 The sources and methods of ancient studies (5 ECTS)
The department organizes an annual course dealing with the basics of scientific
research, which is compulsory to all, as well as practicum-style methodology
courses dealing with specific fields, of which the student is required to complete
two.
Dar220 Theory and practice (4 ECTS)
M. Johnson, Archaeological Theory. An Introduction, and L. Bowkett, S. Hill, D. &
K.A. Wardle, Classical Archaeology in the Field. Approaches and M.D. StansburyO’Donnell, Looking at Greek Art. The study unit can be completed in part e.g. by
participating in an archaeological excavation or work practice in a museum or a
study trip such as the courses offered by the Finnish Institutes in Athens and Rome.
Dar230 Architecture (6 ECTS)
J. R. Senseney, The Art of Building in the Classical World: Vision, Craftmanship and
Linear Perpspective in Greek and Roman Architecture and either the section
dealing with Greece: W. Müller-Wiener, Griechisches Bauwesen in der Antike and J.
G. Pedley, Sanctuaries and the Sacred, and L.C.Nevett, House and Society in the
Ancient Greek World or the section dealing with Rome: J. P. Adam, Roman
Buildning: Materials and Techniques and J.W. Stamper, The Architecture of Roman
Temples. The Repuclic to the Middle Empire and J.R. Clarke, The Houses of Roman
Italy, 100 BC- AD 250: Ritual, Space and Decoration.
Dar240 Topography (8 ECTS)
Choose either Athens or Rome, one smaller town and one dealing with the
rural area.
Athens: J. Camp, The Archaeology of Athens or J. Camp, The Athenian agora:
Excavations in the Heart of Classical Athens
Rome: F. Coarelli, Rome and Environs. An Archaeological Guide, pp. 1-400, or
A.Claridge, Rome. An Oxford Archaeological Guide, pp. 1-376.
Small town: either R. Garland, The Pireus from the 5th to the 1th century BC or P.
Zanker, Pompeii. Public and Private Life
Countryside: T.H. Van Andel, Beyond the Greek Acropolis or S.L. Dyson, Roman
Countryside.
The study unit can be completed in part by participating in a guided study trip on
ancient soil.
Dar221 Sculpture (4 ECTS)
O. Palagia (ed.), Greek Sculpture. Function, Materials and Techniques in the Archaic
and Classical Periods and either a ) Greece and one of the following:
J. Boardman, Greek Sculpture. The Archaic Period or J. Boardman, Greek
Sculpture. The Classical Period or J. Boardman, Greek Sculpture. The Late Classical
Period or R.R.R. Smith, Hellenistic Sculpture or b) Rome: D.E.E. Kleiner, Roman
Sculpture (exact pages to be agreed upon separately).
Dar282 Painting (4 ECTS)
I. Scheibler, Griechische Malerei der Antike or R. Ling, Roman Painting and K.M.D
Dunbabin, Mosaics of the Greek and Roman World or E. Moorman, Mural Paintings
in Greek and Roman Sanctuaries.
Dar283 Pottery (4 ECTS)
Choose either Greek pottery: B.A. Sparkes, Greek Pottery. An Introduction
Rasmussen & T. Spivey, Looking at Greek vases and A.J. Clark, M. Elston
Hart, Understanding Greek Vases. A Guide to Terms, Styles, and Techniques
or Roman pottery: D.P.S. Peacock- D.F. Williams, Amphorae and the
economy or D.P.S. Peacock, Pottery in the Roman World. and J. W.
Handbook of the Mediterranean Roman Pottery.
and T.
& M.L.
Roman
Hayes,
Dar 284 Burial sites (4 ECTS)
I. Morris, Death Ritual and Social Structures in Classical Antiquity and either a)
Greece: D.C. Kurz – J. Boardman, Greek Burial Customs and R. Garland, The
Greek Way of Death or b) Rome: J.M.C. Toynbee, Death and Burial in the Roman
World and E.-J. Graham, The Burial of the Urban Poor in Italy in the Late Roman
Republic and Early Empire.
Dar 224 Ancient technology (4 ECTS)
J.P. Oleson (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Engineering and Technology in the
Classical World and S. Cuomo, Technology and Culture in the Greek and Roman
Antiquity.
Dar286 Fringe areas of ancient culture (4 ECTS)
Choose either Greece or Italy.
Greece: D. Preziosi – L.A. Hitchcock, Aegean Art and Architecture or L. Schofield,
The Mycenaeans, or E. Zanini, Introduzione all’archeologia bizantina
Italy: T. Ross Holloway, The Archaeology of Early Rome and Latium or N.J.
Spivey, Etruscan Art or R. Krautheimer, Three Christian Capitals: Topography and
Politics.
Working life course (4 ECTS)
The department’s common working life course is aimed to be organized annually.
Alternative ways of completing this study unit can be discussed with the
Amanuensis of the subject.
Dar250 PSP (1 ECTS)
Update of the personal study plan and planning of the advanced studies.
Dar261 Proseminar (4 ECTS)
A minor subject student completes a written assignment which is not a Bachelor’s
thesis. A major subject student updates his assignment into his or her Bachelor’s
thesis and writes his or her maturity test based on the thesis.
A prerequisite for participation in the proseminar is that, in addition to basic level
studies, at least 15 ECTS have been completed from the study units Dar220-284. In
addition, it is recommended that the scientific writing course (YY11) have been
completed earlier or be completed parallel with the proseminar, and that TVTstudies have been completed before the proseminar.
Dar262 Bachelor’s thesis (6 ECTS)
If the student’s major subject is classical archaeology, the Bachelor’s thesis
included in the intermediate level studies is a written assignment discussed in the
proseminar, corrected and updated, with a recommended length of 15-20 pages
(font size 12, line spacing 1.5). The goal is for the Bachelor’s thesis to be completed
in connection with the proseminar course.
Dar200S Intermediate level studies in classical archaeology for minor
subject students (35 ECTS)
For minor subject students the study unit Dar261 is compulsory, while the
remaining 31 ECTS can be freely assembled from study units Dar220-Dar283.
Dar300 Advanced level studies (22 ECTS)
These studies form a specialization in the advanced level studies of either Greek
language and literature or Latin language and Roman literature. For the time being
advanced level studies are only available as an internal specialization in these two
subjects.
Dar310 Methodology (4 ECTS)
Literature and method of examination to be agreed upon with the examiner.
Dar320 Special questions I (6 ECTS)
Literature and method of examination to be agreed upon with the examiner.
Dar330 Special questions II (6 ECTS)
Literature and method of examination to be agreed upon with the examiner.
Dar340 Practice (6 ECTS)
Literature and method of examination to be agreed upon with the examiner.