Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE BLH4020

 
TITLE Archaeology of Standing Structures and of Paintings

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Conservation and Built Heritage

 
DESCRIPTION Painted decorative architectural surfaces / stone architectural elements/decorations are intrinsically linked to standing historic structures. These may change as a consequence of use, restoration and/or neglect. The study of their physical history can provide significant/fundamental information that can improve the appreciation/significance of architectural surfaces, and also inform conservation decisions.

During this study-unit the students will learn to assess the physical history of historic building structures and of wall paintings/stone decoration through principles and methods used in Building Archaeology.

Students will learn how to analyse in a systematic way the stratigraphy of historic structures and of paintings, and to correlate data obtained from material evidence with other sources of information, such as written/photographic documentation and/or drawings.

Possible application of the stratigraphic methods in the context of conservation treatments, in particular cleaning, will also be mentioned.

Hands-on fieldwork will have a prime role in this SU. Students will be exposed to real case studies, asked to gather information from material evidence and other documentary sources, record and critically interpret data.

Study-Unit Aims:

This study-unit aims at introducing the methods employed in archaeology to analyse historic buildings/structures and study their character, type, plan, use and function, historical and structural development of the buildings. Methods and principles will be applied to the analysis of standing structures, and wall paintings/stone decoration alike, to trace their physical history and provide significant/fundamental information that can improve the appreciation/significance of decorative architectural surfaces and inform conservation decisions.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Apply principles and analytic methods used in Building Archaeology to date and interpret standing historic structures and wall paintings/stone decoration;
- Critically discuss the evolution/physical history of historic structures and wall paintings/stone decoration;
- Correlate information gathered from material evidence with other sources of documentation (e.g. written, photographic documentation) to trace the physical history of historic structures and wall paintings/stone decoration;
- Discuss the relevance and use of archaeological methods to enhance the knowledge/understanding and appreciation of historic structures and wall paintings/stone decoration.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Correlate information gathered from material evidence with other sources of documentation (e.g. written, graphic and photographic documentation);
- Compile a report to document the stratigraphic analysis of a historic site and its wall paintings/stone decoration;
- Apply the stratigraphic method as a tool to document and understand the layered painting structure, even in the context of conservation treatments (e.g. to document the complex layered structure of a painting before, during and after cleaning);
- Discuss and take into consideration other data produced by other disciplines investigating and/or working on historic buildings (e.g. Master masons, structural engineer).

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Davies, M. 1987. The Archaeology of Standing Structures. (Available through the UM HyDi portal)
- Gosden, C & Marshall, Y. 1999. The cultural biography of objects (Available on: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00438243.1999.9980439?casa_token=2HW4YMSwvRsAAAAA:jHOzadLxCs1Dc-GKN3rZ_yejeZWaBuYLtRXhR_cfBW6ae7-SUmyEUsg_1rTPRQ8iCsmQyeqeArQ)
- Sapin, C, Bully, S, Bizri, M & Henrion, F (ed.). 2022. Archéologie du Bâti. Aujourd’hui et demain. (Available on:https://books.openedition.org/artehis/25779?lang=it)
- Barros Garcia. 2009. Recording Stratigraphic Relationships among Non-original
- Deposits on a 16th Century Painting. Journal of Cultural Heritage (available on 10:338–346. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2009.01.001)

Supplementary Readings:

- BARROS GARCIA, J. M. 2004. The Use of the Harris Matrix to Document the Layers Removed during the Cleaning of Painted Surfaces. Studies in Conservation, 49:245 258. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/25487701.
- BRAGGIOLO, G.P. 2012. Dall’Archeologia dell’architettura all’Archeologia della complessità [available online - file:///C:/Users/0159085M/Downloads/196207-Text%20de%20l'article-263208-1-10-20100720.pdf]
- BARROS GARCIA, J.M. and Pérez Marín, E. 2012. Extended Abstract – A New Documentation System: Stratigraphic Units Recording Sheets Applied to the Cleaning of a Fifteenth-Century Painting. In New Insights into the Cleaning of Paintings: Proceedings from the Cleaning 2010 International Conference, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia and Museum Conservation Institute, edited by Mecklenburg, Marion F., Charola, A. Elena, and Koestler, Robert J., 31–33. Smithsonian Contributions to Museum Conservation. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution
- BOATO, A. 2010. Il Castello di Madrignano (La Spezia): analisis archeologica degli elevati in vista del progetto di recupero e conservazione. In: C. MARTÍN MORALES and E. DE VEGA GARCÍA, eds, Arqueología aplicada al estudio e interpretación de edificios históricos: últimas tendencias metodológicas. Madrid: Subdirección General de Publicaciones, Información y Documentación, pp. 217-236. [available online]
- BOATO, A. 2015. The study of building characteristics and stratigraphic analysis: A contribution to structural verification in seismic areas. In: R. CRISAN, D. FIORANI, L. KEALY and S.F. MUSSO, eds, Conservation-Reconstruction: Small Historic Centres Conservation in the Midst of Change. Hasselt: European Association for Architectural Education; European Network of Heads of Schools in Architecture, pp. 301-312. [available online]
- BRANDT, O., AIELLO, F., CARUSO, F., CECALUPO, C. and HANNA, E., 2014. Photomodelling as an Instrument for Stratigraphic Analysis of Standing Buildings: The Baptistery of Albenga. Rivista di Archeologia Cristiana, 90, pp. 259-293. [available online]
- CIfA. (Chartered Institute for Archaeologists). 2014. Standard and guidance for the archaeological investigation and recording of standing buildings or structures (https://www.archaeologists.net/sites/default/files/CIfAS%26GBuildings_3.pdf) Refer also to CIfA's website for additional information (https://www.archaeologists.net/ )
- DE MINICIS, E. and GUIDONI, E., eds, 2001. Case e Torri Medievali II. Roma: Kappa. [personal copy available to use on request]
- HICKS, D & HORNING, A. 2006. Historical archaeology and buildings in The Cambridge Companion to Historical Archaeology, Inggris: Cambridge University Press, pgs 273-292 [available online]
- HISTORIC ENGLAND, 2016. Understanding Historic Buildings: A Guide to Good Recording Practice. English Heritage. [available online - https://content.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/understanding-historic-buildings/heag099-understanding-historic-buildings.pdf/]
- JONES, M., 2000. The Stratigraphic Examination of Standing Buildings: problems and solutions. In: S. ROSKAMS, ed, Interpreting Stratigraphy: Site Evaluation, recording procedures and stratigraphic analysis. Papers presented to the Interpreting Stratigraphy Conference 1993-1997. Oxford: Archaeopress, pp. 113-123. [CC77.5.I58]
- Mifsud, c. 2021. Dissezionando La Valletta - Archeologia di una città moderna in F. Capano e M. Visone (ed.) “La Città Palinsesto: Tracce, sguardi e narrazioni sulla complessità dei contesti urbani storici. Tomo I - Memorie, storie, immagini”, International Conference, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II [available online]
- REYNOLDS, A., ed, 2009. The Archaeology of Standing Buildings. World Archaeology 41/3. [available online]
- SMITH, R., 2000. Recording for Recording's Sake. In: S. ROSKAMS, ed, Interpreting Stratigraphy: Site Evaluation, recording procedures and stratigraphic analysis. Papers presented to the Interpreting Stratigraphy Conference 1993-1997. Oxford: Archaeopress, pp. 125-128. [CC77.5.I58]
- TRUEMAN, M., 2000. Structures in Contexts. In: S. ROSKAMS, ed, Interpreting Stratigraphy: Site Evaluation, recording procedures and stratigraphic analysis. Papers presented to the Interpreting Stratigraphy Conference 1993-1997. Oxford: Archaeopress, pp. 129-134. [CC77.5.I58]
- WESTMAN, A., 2000. Upright stratigraphy: understanding and recording buildings in London. In: S. ROSKAMS, ed, Interpreting Stratigraphy: Site Evaluation, recording procedures and stratigraphic analysis. Papers presented to the Interpreting Stratigraphy Conference 1993-1997. Oxford: Archaeopress, pp. 107-112. [CC77.5.I58]

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Fieldw, Ind Study, Lec, Tut, Onl L, Grp L & Semi

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Report SEM1 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
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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 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit