04447 - Phoenician and Punic Archaeology

Learning outcomes

The course provides the basic knowledge for the study of Phoenician and Punic civilization, analyzing diachronically the historical and archaeological data concerning the Levant and the other regions of the Mediterranean Basin, from the beginning of the Iron Age to the Romanization. At the end of the course the student:

- reaches a deep understanding of the different expressions of Phoenician and Punic civilization, with regard to the epigraphic, economic, numismatic, artistic and religious aspects;

- is able to correctly evaluate the outcomes of the cultural interactions between the Phoenician and the other Mediterranean cultures.

Course contents

• Introduction to the Phoenician and Punic Archaeology.

• Literary sources.

• The Phoenician colonization in the Mediterranean: settlement dynamics and chronological, geographical, religious, economic and social aspects.

• History and archeology of Carthage from the foundation to 146 BC.
  
  
• The Carthaginian expansion: North Africa, Sicily, Sardinia, Malta, Iberian Peninsula.

• Art and craft production: technological aspects and manufacturing centers.
  
  
• The categories of art and craft production: stone relief and statuary, jewellery, glyptics, amulets, razors, ostrich eggs, pottery.

Readings/Bibliography

The exam preparation will include the class notes and the following books and articles:

• S. Moscati, Fenicio o punico o cartaginese, in Rivista di Studi Fenici, 16 (1988), pp. 3-13.
  
  
• M.E. Aubet, Tyre and Its Colonial Expansion, in C. López-Ruiz, B.R. Doak, The Oxford Handbook of the Phoenician and Punic Mediterranean, Oxford 2019, pp. 75-87.
  

• R. Secci, Giovanni Garbini e la "questione punica", in P. Callieri – A.C. Fariselli (edd.), "E non appassisca il tuo germoglio spontaneo". Studi fenici e punici in ricordo di Giovanni Garbini, Lugano 2019, pp. 179-209.

• S.F. Bondì – M. Botto – G. Garbati – I. Oggiano, Fenici e Cartaginesi. Una civiltà mediterranea, Roma 2009.

Further bibliography will be provided during the lessons.

Non-attending students will have to complete the bibliography indicated in the previous points with five papers (at the option of the student) from the following book:

A.C. Fariselli - R. Secci (edd.), Cartagine fuori da Cartagine: mobilità nordafricana nel Mediterraneo centro-occidentale tra l'VIII e il II sec. a.C. (= Byrsa. Scritti sull'antico Oriente mediterraneo, 33-34), Lugano 2018.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons. Interested students will be able to integrate their study of the subject by participating in the excavation of the Punic settlement of Sarcapos (Villaputzu-SU). The attendance of this training activity requires the performance by all students of modules 1 and 2 in e-learning mode [https://www.unibo.it/it/servizi-e-opportunita/salute-e-assistenza/salute-e-sicurezza/sicurezza-e-salute-nei-luoghi-di-studio-e-tirocinio] and participation in module 3 of specific training on safety and health in the workplace. Information on dates and attendance of module 3 can be found in the appropriate section of the course website.

Assessment methods

Oral examination. The student will have to be able to outline the main historical issues about the Phoenician civilization and to frame the iconographic material discussed in classes in the cultural and historical context, demonstrating property of language and ability of grasping connections, differences and comparisons between the different kinds of documentation. Specifically, the exam will consist of questions on central topics of the discipline and tests of recognition of archaeological artefacts, plans of settlements or monuments of particular interest, selected from those examined in class or treated in the reference bibliography.

Attending and non-attending students will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

• An in-depth knowledge of the course contents, highlighted by a high capacity to frame the archaeological and iconographic documentation in the historical-cultural context of reference, by a reasoned exposure and a good property of language, will be evaluated with the maximum grading (28-30 con Lode);
• a non-optimal knowledge of the course contents, highlighted by an uncertain and/or mainly mnemonic exposure and combined with inadequate capacity of historical-cultural contextualization, will be assessed in a grading range from good (25-27) to satisfactory (21-24);
• A superficial knowledge of the course contents, combined with a mainly mnemonic acquisition, will be evaluated with a sufficient grading (18-21);
  
• The absence of a minimum knowledge of the course contents, combined with inadequate logical and linguistic skills, will be evaluated with an insufficient grading even in spite of a regular attendance.
  

Teaching tools

Slides and other audiovisual supports; photocopies and pdf articles; web resources.

Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (DSA) needing compensatory tools will be able to communicate their needs to the Teacher in order to be addressed to the referents and agree on the adoption of the most appropriate measures.

https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it/per-studenti

Office hours

See the website of Raimondo Secci