| CODE | ARC2011 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Phoenician and Punic Archaeology | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Classics and Archaeology | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit aims to examine and reconstruct the history of the Phoenicians and their subsequent expansion into the western Mediterranean during the Iron Age. It specifically addresses the dearth of surviving original written sources, relying instead on archaeological evidence and inscriptions to understand their past. The lectures adopt a thematic and diachronic approach, exploring various Phoenician regions outside their homeland across the first millennium BC. Key areas of focus include the social contexts of artefacts and sites, the ideological importance of monuments, and the dynamics of cultural evolution, all examined through a comparative lens to illuminate the broader patterns and fluid nature of Phoenician (and subsequent Punic) identity. Study-Unit Aims: - Introduce the archaeology of the Mediterranean region in the post-prehistoric period; - Instill a strong comparative approach to the study of a large region by drawing in knowledge of different areas where the Phoenicians are known to have settled; - Examine the cultural material, including epigraphic evidence, available and analyse it through current interpretative approaches in the discipline. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Become familiar with the the archaeological literature relating to Phoenician and Punic culture, including select site reports, material analyses, and synthetic interpretations; - Be knowledgeable of the main epigraphic sources dealing with Phoenician and Punic culture; - Recognise the main classes of material, imagery, and monuments associated with Phoenician and Punic culture in the Mediterranean; - Relate the archaeological record of different areas of the Phoenician and Punic world to wider issues such as maritime connectivity, the nature of initial contact scenarios, ancient ritual and religion, and the interpretation of art. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Recognise the value that specific regional and historical processes are often induced and related to issues which are wider in both geographic and temporal scope; - Undertake a close reading of archaeological reports and epigraphic sources in order to reconstruct a complete picture of the past. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Aubet, M. E. 2001. The Phoenicians and the West: Politics, Colonies and Trade. 2nd edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [UOM DS81.A92]. - Gibson, J. C. L. 1982. Textbook of Syrian Semitic Inscriptions, vol. 3. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [UOM Faculty of Arts Library PJ5615.G5]. - Markoe, G. E. 2002. Phoenicians. London: British Museum Press. [UOM SLC/Faculty of Arts Library DS81.M3]. Specific reading material will be given in class. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | |||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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