| CODE | BLH4029 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Traditional Materials and Techniques 2: Stone | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Conservation and Built Heritage | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will provide an in-depth view of the main materials and technological processes used to produce a selection of stone artifacts/structures. This will also include key developments of these technological processes in the Maltese as well as the more general Mediterranean, European and broader contexts. The importance of understanding traditional materials and techniques when defining the values of cultural heritage will also be emphasised, and the importance of studying and underdtanding them prior to conserving a work of art. Primary sources and technical studies related to decorative architectural surfaces will be analysed. Students will be asked to research a specific technological process in relation to a traditional artifact and to present their research in an assignment at the end of the study-unit. Actual case studies will be examined first-hand during the site visits. The site visit component is designed to encourage the students to put into practice the theoretical frameworks acquired in the classroom, in order to 'read' a historical artefact and/or structure and/or a building, understand its materials and how it was created. Emphasis will also be placed on the use of traditional materials, tools and technologies, to then develop practical and manual skills -including manual dexterity- in the unit 'Development of Practical and Manual Skills 2: Stone'. Study-Unit Aims: - Provide an in-depth view of the traditional materials, techniques and technologies used for a target selection of stone artifacts/structures from antiquity to the present, through the use of primary sources and technical studies; - Equip students with an understanding of the implications of materials and technologies for the assessment of values of these stone artifacts/structures; - Provide tools to recognise materials and techniques from the observation and analysis of the stone artifacts/structures and/or a building on site; - Provide an insight on the chemical and physical properties of the materials composing stone artefacts/decorated surfaces; - Supply the research tools to understand original materials and techniques of a stone artifact/structure and be able to replicate it. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Identify and describe the stratigraphy and tools marks of a stone artifact/structure; - Define the processes used in the manufacture of a given stone artifact/structure; - Use the appropriate terminology to describe traditional manufacturing processes of stone artifacts/structures; - Define and discuss basic properties of original materials. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply the observation skills learnt during the course to systematically describe the stratigraphy and the process of making of a stone artifact/structure, a replica and/or a real case study; - Identify key stages and events in the history of an object through an examination of its materials and workmanship; - Explain the implications that physical and chemical properties of original materials have on the overall behaviour of the stone artefact/decorative surface; - Write a technical report to describe the original technique of a stone artefact/decorative surface. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Rockwell P., The Art of Stoneworking: a reference guide. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, 1995 (Available on the UM HyDi portal and at Bighi Library) - W. Wootton, B. Russell, P. Rockwell. 2013. Stoneworking Tools and Toolmarks (Available at https://artofmaking.ac.uk/media/uploads/uploads/stoneworking_tools_and_toolmarks-wootton_russell_rockwell-v1.0.pdf) - W. Wootton, B. Russell, and P. Rockwell. 2013. Stoneworking Techniques and Processes (Available at https://artofmaking.ac.uk/media/uploads/uploads/stoneworking_techniques_and_processes-wootton_russell_rockwell-v1.0.pdf) - Cassar, J. (2010). The use of limestone in a historic context鈥搕he experience of Malta. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 331(1), 13-25. (Available through UM HyDi portal) - Vincent Zammit. 2004. The Limestone Heritage. Si摹摹iewi. Insight Heritage Guides. (Available at Bighi Library and UM Melitensia Special Collections) - Rich, Jack, The Materials and Methods of Sculpture. Dover. New York, 1988. (Available UoM Bighi Library) - Spiteri S., 2008, The Art of Fortress Building in Hospitaller Malta, BDL Publishing, Malta (Available in UoM Main Library). Supplementary Readings: - The Art of Making in Antiquity - Stoneworking in the Roman World https://artofmaking.ac.uk/ |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Study-units: Traditional Materials and Tecniques 1 | |||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Fieldw, Ind Study, Lec, Tut, Onl L, Grp L & Semi | |||||||||
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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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