Description including Unit Aims

Despite their reputation as agents of destruction, explosive volcanoes are the most effective preservers of ancient human traces and their environmental context. Apart from providing valuable time markers, large-volume eruptions can quickly and thoroughly bury settlements and artifacts, soils and landforms, protecting them from subsequent damage. Many examples of unearthed important sites are present in Campania (i.e. the Bronze Age village of Nola and the Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum) as in other part of the world. Their study can give an inestimable contribution to archaeological, historical and palaeo-environmental research.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Reconstruction of ancient buried landscapes and their anthropogenic features by using a multidisciplinary approach including earth and environmental sciences as well as archaeological and historical sources.

Assessment Information

Oral exam.

For Italian students, please see

For foreign students, please see Admission regulation with reference to second cycle degree programme (laurea magistrale – lm)

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