1010867 - ARCHAELOGY OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICES IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST

The study of the religious practices of ancient Near Eastern societies aims at developing a better knowledge of how to interpret ancient material culture for the students interested in following an academic path in the field of archaeology. Moreover, the subjects investigated during the course will be useful for a collaborating with national and international museum environments. 

The course will therefore stimulate discussion on general issues (such as the birth of religion) and on case studies related to the birth and development of religiosity in the Near East from prehistoric times to the birth of Levantine monotheism during the first millennium BC. In order to better stimulate an innovative approach to the subject by the students, moments of interaction and study will be provided through tools such as individual presentations, group discussions and thematic round tables. This approach will stimulate a deeper knowledge of the subject, but also new ways to improve students' autonomy of judgment and communication skills.

Based on the Dublin descriptors, the objectives of the course will be:

1) Knowledge and understanding. Provide students with knowledge of the cultural development of religious practices of the ancient Near East through the analysis of particularly significant contexts.

2) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding. To make the student able to consciously tackle a research in the field of archeology of the ancient Near East thanks to the acquisition of adequate tools and methodologies, both in the archaeological, head and bibliographic fields. This purpose will be achieved through an in-depth examination of some specific aspects with round tables during which students will present reports on specific case studies.

3) Autonomy of judgment. Develop in students a critical approach to contexts with systematic comparisons between site descriptions and text analysis associated with religious practices.

4) Communication skills. Provide students with specialized vocabulary to enable them to communicate adequately to the scientific community.

5) Learning skills. Developing students' autonomy in the ability to identify the most representative scientific texts and understand them adequately thanks to a selection of readings that can allow for in-depth research in the study of religious practices in the ancient Near East.