The Program
The Summer School in Roman Pottery is a four-week program designed to introduce the participants to the analysis of ancient Roman pottery. In 2024, it will again be held in Lugnano in Teverina, a picturesque hill town north of Rome. The Civic Museum of Lugano houses the finds from the excavations of the Roman villa of Poggio Gramignano.
Potsherds are the most common finds on archaeological sites in the classical world. They offer important evidence for dating sites and are an invaluable resource for studies on trade relations and economic exchange, food consumption, and aspects of identity. Pottery studies are an essential part of any archaeological training, which can be learned only through direct contact with ceramic material.
Students will learn the fundamentals of Roman pottery through seminars, the hands-on examination of a ceramic assemblage, and field trips to an ancient production center and significant collections of material. In the first half of the summer school, overall concepts and specific ceramic classes with their characteristics, function, date, and provenience will be presented. In the second half, the participants will apply their knowledge to a pottery assemblage excavated nearby. This element is designed to give the participants practical experience by working intensively with the directors with the aim of publishing the assemblage. In both parts, the participants will be expected to work together as a small team.
The Summer School in Roman Pottery 