Prehistory and Proto-history
PROF. ANGELO EUGENIO FOSSATI
COURSE AIMS
The course is open to everybody and does not require any preliminary knowledge.
Students will be introduced to issues emerging from the study of the most ancient
human cultures and will learn the essential aspects of European prehistory and
proto-history with special reference to Northern Italy and the Alpine area.
This year’s course will include further study of art during the Palaeolithic age in
Italy and the rest of Europe. The topics being studied are: the art of furniture
making, paintings and rock engravings in caves and above ground, work
techniques, materials, study methods and interpretation. There will also be study
trips to interesting sites related to the course syllabus.
COURSE CONTENT
General Section:
Aspects of European prehistory and proto-history with special reference to
Northern Italy. Hominization and the most ancient human cultures; the Stone Age;
Similaun Man (Ötzi, the Iceman); the Metal Ages. Italic cultures in the Iron Age.
The Celts in Italy.
Special Subject:
Cave art in Italy and Europe: the art of furniture making and rock engraving (above
ground and in caves); techniques, study methods, interpretation.
READING LIST
General section
C. RENFREW-P. BAHN, “Quando?” Metodi di datazione e cronologia, in Archeologia. Teorie,
metodi, pratica, Ed. Zanichelli, 2006 (pp. 109-155).
R.C. DE MARINIS, Il Museo Civico Archeologico Giovanni Rambotti. Una introduzione alla
preistoria del lago di Garda, Ed. del Museo, Desenzano, 2000 (only the introductory section
on prehistoric cultures).
G. MANZI, L’evoluzione umana, ed. Il Mulino, Bologna, 2007.
Special subject:
Excerpts from the book:
A. BROGLIO, G. DALMERI (edited by), Pitture paleolitiche nelle Prealpi venete. Grotta di
Fumane e Riparo Dalmeri. Memorie-2 serie, Human Sciences Section 9-Alpine Prehistory,
special issue. Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Verona Civic Natural History MuseumTridentino Natural Sciences Museum. Ed. Cierre, Verona. 2005.
A supplementary specific reading list will be given during the course.
TEACHING METHOD
Lectures, supervised trips to sites of interest.
ASSESSMENT METHOD
Students will be able to find part of the study material on the Blackboard website at the end
of lectures.
NOTES
Further information can be found on the lecturer's
webpage at
http://docenti.unicatt.it/web/searchByName.do?language=ENG or on the Faculty notice
board.