Teaching Objective:
The course aims to provide the basic tools for the archaeometric study of an artifact of
archaeological and/or art-historical interest. Through lectures, practical activities in the laboratory,
and analysis of case studies, students will be able to understand how scientific analysis (chemical
and physical) of constituent materials can assist in the historical, art-historical, and archaeological
study of an artifact. Essential knowledge will be provided regarding various classes of materials
(pigments, metals, glass, ceramics, stones, and construction materials), some production
technologies, and the main archaeometric techniques for studying the materials used throughout the
centuries, from ancient civilizations to contemporary art.
Expected Learning Outcomes (1):
1 – The student will have developed knowledge of the basic chemical-physical characteristics of the
constituent materials of artifacts of archaeological and art-historical interest, as well as their
degradation processes, in order to better understand the results of scientific investigations within an
archaeometric approach.
2 – The student will have developed the ability to understand and apply the content discussed
during lectures to the study of artifacts of archaeological and art-historical interest, as well as their
conservation state.
Expected Learning Outcomes (2):
3 – The student will be able to evaluate and recognize materials and forms of degradation in
artifacts of archaeological and art-historical interest by reasoning interdisciplinarily, that is,
integrating the results of scientific investigations with historical, archaeological, and art-historical
studies.
4 – The student will be able to communicate information, ideas, problems, and solutions to both
specialist and non-specialist audiences.
5 – The student will be able to describe scientific topics related to the constituent materials of
artworks in both written and oral form and compare them with historical, archaeological, and art-
historical studies.