Since the ‘80s of last century the use of informatics and electronic devices in archaeology saw an always increasing importance. In recent years 3D mapping and digital modelling offered more reliable and efficient tools for the study and analysis of ancient sites, giving the chance to archaeologists, heritage professionals and other stakeholders to get over some “destructive” aspects related to investigation activities and gathering both three-dimensional and image data through which it is possible to precisely record any archaeological evidence.

At the end of the programme, students who pass the final exams will be awarded a 1st level university Master’s Degree for those in possession of a B.Sc. degree, or the II level univesity Master’s degree for those enrolled in possession of a M.Sc.

The official course language is English. Each module will be formed by lectures, project work and laboratory activities, individual study.

(*) according to Italian Regulation

Learning modules                                                                                         45 ECTS

1. – Mediterranean Archaeology (L-OR/02, L-OR/05)                            9 ECTS

Aim: The course proposes an introduction to the archaeology of the Mediterranean region through its most important ancient civilisations. It will be mainly focussed to attribute a broad knowledge of their major urban and architectural achievements keeping into account their function and meaning.

Content: The course will chronologically describe the development of Mediterranean cultures starting with Mesopotamian (Turkey and Siro-Palestinian region included) and Egyptian (Sudan is also included) areas and then passing to take into consideration the Greece and Rome. Any civilisation will be analysed taking into account the most significant artistic and architectonic monuments in their historical and cultural context.

2. – Methods and practice in Archaeology (L-ANT/10)                          9 ECTS

Aim: The target of the course is a full introduction to theories, methods and best practices in archaeology for ancient past investigation; it will be focused on main techniques in field and laboratory activities for collection, analysis and recomposition of past remains, connected to their frameworks and linked to research demands.

Content: History of research methods. Theories and approaches to archaeological record. Landscape archaeology and site survey. Excavation and stratigraphy. Main documentation tools: file-cards, photos, drawings and maps. Analysis and materials assemblage. Ancient spaces and spatial patterns interpretation. Relative and absolute chronologies. Historical, urban and architectural reconstruction. Publication, diffusion and value-enhancement of archaeological sites. 

3. - Integrated Survey (ICAR/17)                                                           9 ECTS

Aim: The course aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of theories and practices related to both traditional and current 3D survey techniques (image, range based and bathymetric), applied to archaeological sites and monuments. Through field practice, students will be able to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired during the course to real case studies. Students gradually will learn how to independently use professional instruments (total station, GPS, 3D laser scanner, digital camera and sensors by drone) and the operating techniques of surveying. Furthermore, they will develop skills in data processing and integration.

Contents: Topographic instruments and techniques; GPS positioning and referencing; photogrammetric methods and photo-modelling; 3D laser scanning; mobile mapping systems; bathymetric survey; integrated methods.

4 – Marine Archaeology of the ancient Mediterranean (L-ANT/10)             9 ECTS

Aim: The course aims to provide an interdisciplinary approach to a broad grounding of the marine archaeological heritage of the ancient Mediterranean sea. Through a selection of study cases and seminar discussion, the course introduces students to principles and concepts concerning the history and development of underwater cultural heritage and discusses archaeological evidence related to maritime activities in the Mediterranean sea from the Prehistory until the Byzantine period.

The methods and techniques of underwater survey and excavation are covered as well as the processes of submergence of the sites and the complexity of geo-archaeological changes coupled with human adaptations to sea-level change in antiquity. 

Ancient seaborne trade the basic stages of the development of ships, harbour-cities and port facilities are examined as well as the significance of maritime routes, seascape and landscape, and the main underwater archaeological finds (e.g. shipwrecks, anchors, amphorae, special marble cargo).

Legislation and UNESCO Convention on Underwater archaeological heritage will be introduced in order to offer students a more comprehensive understanding of the field.

The course covers the history and development of underwater archaeology and discusses significant archaeological evidence and selected study cases of maritime activity in the Mediterranean sea.

Contents: methods and techniques of underwater survey and excavation, sea-level changes and human adaptations, ancient maritime topography, ships and port facilities, shipwrecks, anchors, amphorae, special marble cargo, UNESCO Convention.

5 – Representation and 3d modelling (ICAR/17; L-ANT/10)                      9 ECTS

Aim: The course aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of theories and practices related to current 2D-3D graphic representation applied to archaeological field at different representative scales. Through laboratory practice, students will be able to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired during the course to real case studies. Students gradually will develop skills in representing of data on topographic, photogrammetric, CAD and 3D modelling software. The students will also learn how to manage different types of data (including traditional drawings and historical cartography) in different map-layers and geo-database using GIS and focusing their attention on ancient landscape and historical framework reconstruction.

Furthermore, starting from the 3D-survey data, they will learn to create both virtual and plastic models of the sites, also using 3D printing processes.

Contents: numerical data and graphic representation; 2D-3D graphic representation; GIS; 3D modelling techniques; virtual reality; 3d printing processes.

Training stage in field activity in archaeological sites present in Italy, in Egypt or Sudan and underwater                                                                                12 ECTS

Final dissertation                                                                                          3 ECTS

Applicants must attach the following documentation during the on-line registration procedure to the master: - Copy of the personal identification document - In case of title obtained abroad: - copy of the academic title required for admission with diploma supplement (list of exams and grades), translated into Italian - copy of the "Declaration of value" issued by Italian representation competent for territory in the country of the institution that issued the title (only if already available) - Letters of reference; - Motivational letter; - Curriculum vitae highlighting the professional experience in working areas pertaining to the master;

Master Course I/II Level in “Integrated Survey and Graphic Restitution Techniques of Archaeological Sites” 3
Kore University of Enna Faculty of Engineering and Architecture

In collaboration

- Scuba diving licence (not mandatory).

Applicants in possession of a title obtained abroad must, before registration, deliver the documentation in the original to the university accompanied by legal translation by the Italian embassy or other consular representative. The requirements must be held within the deadline for submission of the application for admission.

-Selection process Admission to the Master is done after selection, by qualifications. The selection is in any case expected even in the presence of a number of requests for participation that is lower than the number of places banned. In particular, the evaluation will be aimed at verifying the adequacy of the qualifications presented by the candidate with the application. They will be evaluated for admission to the Master: - degree mark (max 20 points); - any experience gained in relevant in-service activities (max 10); - any other titles present in the curriculum (max 10 points) - publications (max 10 points); - motivation to participate (max 10 points) Students attending the merit list drawn up by the Commission of selection and made public on the University website, as individual notification for all interested parties, will be admitted to the Master's degree. At the same total score, the ranking will be determined on the basis of the age of the candidates, from the youngest to the oldest (Article 2, paragraph 9, Law 16/06/1998 n.191) .

The course will be held in Siracusa (Italy). In order to facilitate the participation of foreign students, lectures will be also available online in real time. Remote classrooms may be arranged in any of IEREK offices. Laboratory work (120 hours – 3 weeks) and final exams will be only held at the University of Enna.

The official course language is English. Each module will be formed by lectures, project work and laboratory activities, individual study.

(*) according to Italian Regulation

Learning modules                                                                                    45 ECTS

1. – Mediterranean Archaeology (L-OR/02, L-OR/05)                      9 ECTS

Aim: The course proposes an introduction to the archaeology of the Mediterranean region through its most important ancient civilisations. It will be mainly focussed to attribute a broad knowledge of their major urban and architectural achievements keeping into account their function and meaning.

Content: The course will chronologically describe the development of Mediterranean cultures starting with Mesopotamian (Turkey and Siro-Palestinian region included) and Egyptian (Sudan is also included) areas and then passing to take into consideration the Greece and Rome. Any civilisation will be analysed taking into account the most significant artistic and architectonic monuments in their historical and cultural context.

2. – Methods and practice in Archaeology (L-ANT/10)                      9 ECTS

Aim: The target of the course is a full introduction to theories, methods and best practices in archaeology for ancient past investigation; it will be focused on main techniques in field and laboratory activities for collection, analysis and recomposition of past remains, connected to their frameworks and linked to research demands.

Content: History of research methods. Theories and approaches to archaeological record. Landscape archaeology and site survey. Excavation and stratigraphy. Main documentation tools: file-cards, photos, drawings and maps. Analysis and materials assemblage. Ancient spaces and spatial patterns interpretation. Relative and absolute chronologies. Historical, urban and architectural reconstruction. Publication, diffusion and value-enhancement of archaeological sites. 

3. - Integrated Survey (ICAR/17)                                                        9 ECTS

Aim: The course aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of theories and practices related to both traditional and current 3D survey techniques (image, range based and bathymetric), applied to archaeological sites and monuments. Through field practice, students will be able to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired during the course to real case studies. Students gradually will learn how to independently use professional instruments (total station, GPS, 3D laser scanner, digital camera and sensors by drone) and the operating techniques of surveying. Furthermore, they will develop skills in data processing and integration.

Contents: Topographic instruments and techniques; GPS positioning and referencing; photogrammetric methods and photo-modelling; 3D laser scanning; mobile mapping systems; bathymetric survey; integrated methods.

4 – Marine Archaeology of the ancient Mediterranean (L-ANT/10)          9 ECTS

Aim: The course aims to provide an interdisciplinary approach to a broad grounding of the marine archaeological heritage of the ancient Mediterranean sea. Through a selection of study cases and seminar discussion, the course introduces students to principles and concepts concerning the history and development of underwater cultural heritage and discusses archaeological evidence related to maritime activities in the Mediterranean sea from the Prehistory until the Byzantine period.

The methods and techniques of underwater survey and excavation are covered as well as the processes of submergence of the sites and the complexity of geo-archaeological changes coupled with human adaptations to sea-level change in antiquity. 

Ancient seaborne trade the basic stages of the development of ships, harbour-cities and port facilities are examined as well as the significance of maritime routes, seascape and landscape, and the main underwater archaeological finds (e.g. shipwrecks, anchors, amphorae, special marble cargo).

Legislation and UNESCO Convention on Underwater archaeological heritage will be introduced in order to offer students a more comprehensive understanding of the field.

The course covers the history and development of underwater archaeology and discusses significant archaeological evidence and selected study cases of maritime activity in the Mediterranean sea.

Contents: methods and techniques of underwater survey and excavation, sea-level changes and human adaptations, ancient maritime topography, ships and port facilities, shipwrecks, anchors, amphorae, special marble cargo, UNESCO Convention.

5 – Representation and 3d modelling (ICAR/17; L-ANT/10)                       9 ECTS

Aim: The course aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of theories and practices related to current 2D-3D graphic representation applied to archaeological field at different representative scales. Through laboratory practice, students will be able to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired during the course to real case studies. Students gradually will develop skills in representing of data on topographic, photogrammetric, CAD and 3D modelling software. The students will also learn how to manage different types of data (including traditional drawings and historical cartography) in different map-layers and geo-database using GIS and focusing their attention on ancient landscape and historical framework reconstruction.

Furthermore, starting from the 3D-survey data, they will learn to create both virtual and plastic models of the sites, also using 3D printing processes.

Contents: numerical data and graphic representation; 2D-3D graphic representation; GIS; 3D modelling techniques; virtual reality; 3d printing processes.

Training stage in field activity in archaeological sites present in Italy, in Egypt or Sudan and underwater                                                12 ECTS

Final dissertation                                                         3 ECTS