Contemporary archaeological research is markedly multidisciplinary in scope. The archaeological record encompasses more than just artifacts and structures, it also includes organic materials preserved within anthropogenic stratifications. Botanical and faunal remains are an abundant and ubiquitous component of these deposits, as a direct result of the number of daily activities that utilize animal and plant resources. If properly sampled, processed, and analyzed, these "ecofacts" allow for the reconstruction of past agropastoral systems, diets, and paleoenvironments. The aim of this course is to provide graduate students with an introduction to the methods of zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical research. We will address these topics through a dual approach: (i) in the first two modules, we will analyze the main methodologies used in these fields of archaeological research, from sampling to interpretation of results; (ii) in the third module, through the analysis of case studies, we will critically discuss a selection of research themes central to bio-archaeological research and environmental archaeology. The course includes a component of frontal lectures, alongside discussions in a seminar context. Study materials include textbooks and a selection of articles from scientific journals.
- Docente: LORENZO CASTELLANO