RICERCA ITALIANA     

Research program

ATELIER, WORKSHOP, YARD. TECHNIQUES AND CULTURE OF THE PRODUCTION IN THE ROMAN WORLD

University Co-ordinator

Università degli Studi di PARMA - STORIA - ()

Research Unit Leader

Sara Santoro

Description

The Research Unit consists of three different co-operating work groups: 1) the archaeological group, 2) the papyrological group 3) the archaeometric group.

On the basis of the above mentioned criteria, which will be methodologically and critically tested in a preliminary stage of the program, the aim of the proposed Reserch Project is that of attesting to the quality and quantity of productive, professional activities carried out in domestic spaces designed to serve specific purposes.

In all aspects of the study undertaken by means of research strategies specific to each work group, emphasis will be placed on the archaeological evidence emerging from selected model contexts. The main objective is to contribute to a more detailed framework of the technical culture and professional life of the productive classes of the Roman Imperial Society. Different patterns ranging in date from the first century BC to the fourth century AD will be considered.

The archaeological work group has the task to pursue the following main objectives which include:

1. gathering archaeological data related to productive, professional activities performed in domestic spaces: the Vesuvian Cities, Northern Italian sites, Roman provinces (Gallia Belgica). This activity is performed in cooperation with the Superintendence of Pompeii and Northern Italy (Phase 1. collecting data)
2. evaluating the information obtained from the data and their relationship with archaeometric and papyrological analysis of the nomenclature applied to specificic artifacts (with regards to medico-pharmacological aspects) (Phase 2. investigation and integration processes)
3. interpretation of a range of digital data used to reconstruct the professional activities, the levels of technical culture within a daily life framework (Phase 3. publication of the results and dissemination).

Stage 1. The investigations will be subdivided into the following stages:

1.1. identification and comparative evaluation of documentary archives and database designed to the proposed objectives and existing in the model-areas. Members of the Research Unit will integrate previously collected data;
1.2. a bibliographical research devoted to the selected areas of Northern Italy will be undertaken;
1.3. existing studies on Roman craftsmen will facilitate the task of the Unit. As regards to the Gallia Belgica Province, the a current co-operation with a research group of Bliesbruck-Reinheim, which provides a financial support to the present Project, will be of much help;
1.4. selection and elaboration of data suitable to productive activities. Specific attention will be given to combined structural elements (localisation and typology of the house; dimensions and pattern of the domestic spaces which could have been planned to accommodate productive, professional or commercial activities; permanent structural elements (such as niches, stands, fire places) and mobile elements (work instruments, work waste, epigraphical data);
1.5. this specific research field will be supported by the use of papyrological evidence; information provided by papyri attesting to daily life and communication in a province of the Roman Empire, in fact, can better illustrate the function of instruments, equipment and materials of practical usefulness. The value of this documentation can be extended to other part of the Empire. Archaeometric analysis will be important to determine the features of the materials (for example, combustion, dyeing and so on). The minero-petrographic analysis will be undertaken by a member of the Research Unit. The amount of data available will be gathered, computerised and monitored by means of an informatic tool (a G.I.S), for which the necessary hardware and software instruments are available to the Research Unit. An old PC portable will be substituted during the Project.

Stage 2. Evaluation of the data
2.1 integration of archaeological, archaeometric and textual data in co-operation with the other Research Units and external partners (for example in the archaeozoologic and palinological fields);
2.2 bibliographical researches
2.3 and monitoring of the data combining and integrating aspects provided by different disciplines;

Stage 3. Interpretation and reconstruction of typologies of productive activities in the archaeological context.
3.1 organisation of Conferences intended to interchange of results;
3.2 participation to International Meetings and Conferences to compare methodologies and preliminary results;
3.3 publication of the results (archaeological, archaeometric and papyrological) both online and within printed books
3.4 didactic lectures and dissemination of the results (exhibitions, website, articles in newspapers and in reviews of large impact, guidelines to the musealisation)

The papyrological work group will accomplish a comparative and interdisciplinary study of samples of artifacts that appear to have been designed for specific professions in antiquity and that have been mentioned or described in ancient literature. Literary and documentary evidence of technical scientific genders will be explored. Special attention will be drawn to medical and pharmaceutic activities which could have taken place in domestic spaces equipped in ancient urban contexts where archaeological and archaeometric records have been excavated. Some terracotta therapeutic vases, for example, have been found in the famous House of the Surgeon of Rimini and the understanding of their practical uses deserves deeper attention and scholarly investigation. Important information can be achieved through the screening of ancient medical literary sources.

The papyrological investigations will be subdivided into the following two main stages:
a) collection and analysis of the ancient terminology applied to professional artifacts;
b) comparative study of written documentation and archaeological, archaeometric evidence with regard to the technical, scientific professions; the collected data will be integrated with the results of activities 1.2 , 2 e 3.
Diagnostic analysis will be conducted in co-operation with the “Interdipartimental Centre of Infrared Reflectrography and Diagnostic of the Cultural Heritage” of the University of Milan (and members of the INOA-CNR Unit). The archaeometric investigations on samples of particular remains will be performed by the Archaeometric Research Unit of the Project.
The specific competence and experience of the Archaeometric Research Unit in the minero-petrographic field will be able to assist the research group with specific analysis and investigations.

The participation in the Research Project of a relevant number of young researchers involved in a continuing education program explain the application for an adequate financial support. It is a remarkable aspect of the submitted application along with its interdisciplinary approach. The use of integrate advanced technology of diagnostic is expected to afford progressive avenues for future research and advancements.
The aim is to build a greater understanding of spatial utilisation for economic purposes and an evaluation of the archaeological evidence by means of innovative opportunities of conservation and musealisation.

Stages and time:

Preliminary methodological and critical phase (mesi/ uomo 7)
fase 1: collecting data ( mesi uomo 14)
fase 2: elaborating and integrating data (mesi uomo 35)
fase 3: publication of the results and dissemination (30)