Duration
30h SEM, 5d FT Tr. Pr.
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Greco-Roman Archaeology / partim ROME (2025-2026):
"OSTIA AND ROME'S MARITIME FACADE"
This course aims to introduce Master students to the methodologies adopted by archaeologists to study a territory over the longue durée. First, we will provide a brief overview of geo-historical disciplines and their methods. In particular, we will focus on historical topography, archaeogeography and landscape archaeology, as practised in France, Italy and the United Kingdom. We will then explore the range of historical sources used by these disciplines, as well as the archaeological techniques employed in the field to collect new data on the territories' occupation.
Following an initial introduction, these sources and techniques will be presented in more details within the context of a comprehensive study of Rome's facade maritime between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD, focusing particularly on the Tiber delta. Using these different tools, we will highlight the settlement and occupation dynamics of this territory, as well as the landscape formation process during the period under study.
The chapters we plan to cover in the 2025-26 course are as follows:
- Methods, sources and techniques for studying an ancient territory.
- The Tyrrhenian coast, an environment conducive to salt exploitation.
- The coloniae maritimae and coastal defence in the Republican era.
- The evolution of Rome's port system from the Republican era to late antiquity.
- The development of the colony of Ostia.
- Communication routes structuring Rome's coastline.
- The villae maritimae of the Roman elite.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The learning objective of course HAAR0122-2, taught to Master's students during the 2025/26 academic year, is twofold:
- to develop students' critical thinking based on a research project at ULiège (Ostia and the development of Rom's seafront). Students will be required to take a position in current scientific debates and formulate a reasoned and nuanced thesis based on the data and hypotheses presented during the course, as well as their own reading;
- familiarise students with the sources used by archaeologists to study a given territory (city, micro-region, region), as well as with the principles of the techniques used to acquire new data. The course provides an introduction to these topics and does not claim to turn students into specialists in the various tools discussed.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
None. However, we strongly encourage students wishing to further their knowledge of the methodologies presented in this seminar to take the following courses:
- GIS, Introduction, taught by Profs. F. Jonard and R. Billen (GEOG0238-5).
- Introduction to Latin Epigraphy, taught by Prof. Dominique Longrée (LCLA2062-1).
- Special questions of the techniques of excavation, taught by Dr Timothée Libois and Prof Lyne Van Wersch (HAAR0079-1).
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
A critical approach to the material presented in the course will be necessary. This implies preparing in advance for the issues discussed, in order to contribute to the discussion and exchange the information gathered. Students will therefore be required to read the recommended publications prior to the start of the course. These will be written in various languages, including French, Italian and English.
Students who wish to present their own research on a related topic to the course to the class are welcome to do so.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
Lectures (illustrated by slides) for which students' active participation is encouraged (critical discussion).
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- Microsoft Teams
Further information:
PowerPoint presentations used during the course will be made available to students via the course's Teams channel created to facilitate communication with students.
Students will also be provided with a regularly updated detailed bibliography on this digital platform. Reading the bibliographical references is strongly advised to help students prepare for and pass the exam. Some important publications are not available in the ULiège library, but they can be downloaded online. The lecturer will upload them to Teams channel.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Further information:
A written assignment must be submitted during the final lecture (17th December 2025). The oral examination will then be based on this assignment.
Work placement(s)
No placements are planned during this course.
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
The course will take place every week from Wednesday 1st October 2025, in line with the schedule which has been established (Wednesday 10am to 1pm / Salle du conseil histoire). A break is planned in the second half of the session.
Contacts
Reception by appointment at the Department of Art History and Archaeology of Greco-Roman Antiquity.
Lecturer
Grégory MAINET, Maître de Conférence
Chargé de recherche F.R.S.-FNRS
Département des Sciences historiques
Quai Roosevelt 1b (Bât. A4), B-4000 Liège
Courrier électronique : gmainet@uliege.be
http://web.philo.ulg.ac.be/shaaragr/
Secretariat
Josiane DERULLIEUR
Tél. 04.366.53.41