Prerequisites

There are no specific prerequisites. At least a passive knowledge of German, English, and Italian is recommended.

Content (Syllabus outline)

Students learn about special research methods for small archaeological finds from the Roman period. Classification according to the material used is the most common: ceramics, glass, and metal. The study of Roman ceramics is presented by recognizing imported and well-defined local/regional products (primarily those in the south-eastern Alpine area). Emphasis is placed on procedures that enable the definition of local/regional ceramic products. Methods for classifying ceramic objects by production, form, and decoration are explained. Opportunities for interdisciplinary research (mineralogical and chemical analyses) addressing the origin of ceramic groups are presented and also carried out (given good circumstances). Metal objects are discussed according to their chronology, function, type of alloy, and so on. Research methods are presented that enable sensible typological arrangement of the material and interpretation of typology, function, and technology. The importance of studying material and decoration is emphasized, as well as the importance of archeometallurgical research. The characteristics of glass production in the Roman period are presented as well as modern research trends. Interdisciplinary research is encouraged, especially the connection between archeology and the natural sciences. Models of interdisciplinary research on ceramics and metal objects are presented (classification issues related to iron and non-ferrous metals).

1. Ceramics:

• Recognition of imported and already defined local/regional products (mostly products that appear in central Europe)
• Definition of local/regional ceramic products; methods of classifying ceramic objects according to production, form, and decoration
• Problems relating to the origin of specific ceramic groups
• Interdisciplinary investigations (mineralogical and chemical analyses)

2. Metal objects:

• Typological arrangement and interpretation
• Chronology
• Function
• Use of various alloys, techniques of production
• Archaeometallurgical studies

3. Glass objects:

• Typological arrangement and interpretation
• Chronology
• Function
• Characteristics of glass production
• Archaeometallurgical studies

Readings

• Bayley, J., Butscher, S. 2004, Roman Brooches in Britain. A Technological and Typological Study based on the Richborough Collection. – London.
• Bishop M. C. in J. C. N. Coulston, 2026. Roman military equipment, London.
• Craddock, P. T. 1995. Early Metal Mining and Production, Edinburgh.
• Czysz, W. 2019, Handbuch der Provinzialrömischen Archäologie, Wiesbaden.
• Feugère, M. 1993. Les armes des Romains. Paris.
• Fingerlin, G. 1986, Dangstetten I. – Forschungen und Berichte zur Vor- und Frühgeschichte in Baden-Würtemberg 22, Stuttgart.
• Fingerlin, G. 1998, Dangstetten II. – Forschungen und Berichte zur Vor- und Frühgeschichte in Baden-Würtemberg 69, Stuttgart.
• Forschungen in Augst 1-56. Römermuseum Augst 1977-2022.
• Gaspari, A. 2014, Prazgodovinska in rimska Emona. Vodnik skozi arheološko preteklost predhodnice Ljubljane. – Ljubljana.
• Horvat, J. 1990, Nauportus. –
• Horvat, J. 1997, Sermin : prazgodovinska in zgodnjerimska naselbina v severozahodni. – Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae 3, Ljubljana.
• Istenič, J. 1999-2000. Poetovio, zahodna grobišča I-II. Katalogi in monografije 32-33, Ljubljana.
• Istenič, J. 2005, Brooches of the Alesia group in Slovenia. – Arheološki vestnik 56, 187–212.
• Istenič, J. 2013, Early roman graves with weapons in Slovenia: an overview. – In/V: Sanader, Rendić-Miočević, Tončinić, Radman-Livaja 2013, 23–36.
• Istenič, J. 2019, Roman military equipment from the river Ljubljanica: typology, chronology and technology = Rimska vojaška oprema iz reke Ljubljanice: arheološke in naravoslovne raziskave. Ljubljana.
• Istenič, J. 2025, The role of Roman armies in the territorial expansion and consolidation of Roman imperial power in the territory of Slovenia. Arheološki vestnik 76,  2025, 113–146.Istenič, J. 2018, Roman bronze helmets from the Republican period and the Early Principate in Slovenia / Rimske bronaste čelade republikanske dobe in zgodnjega principata v Sloveniji. – Arheološki vestnik 69, 277–334.Istenič, J., Daszkiewicz, M., Schneider, G. 2003. Local production of pottery and clay lamps at Emona (Italia, regio X). Rei Cretariae Romanae Fautorum Acta 38: 83-91.
• Istenič, J., Schneider, G. 2000. Aegean cooking ware in the Eastern Adriatic. Rei Cretariae Romanae Fautorum Acta 36: 341-348.
• Istenič, J., Šmit, Ž. 2007, The beginning of the use of brass in Europe with particular reference to the southeastern Alpine region. – In/V: S. La Niece, D. R. Hook, P. T. Craddock (eds./ur.), Metals and Mines, Studies in Archaeometallurgy, Selected papers from the conference Metallurgy: A Touchstone for Cross-cultural Interaction held at the British Museum 28–30 April 2005 to celebrate the career of Paul Craddock during his 40 years at the British Museum, London, 140–147.
• James, S. 2004, Excavations at Dura-Europos 1928–1937. Final Report VII. The Arms and Armour and Other Military Equipment. – London.
• Lazar, I. 2003, Rimsko steklo Slovenije = The Roman glass of Slovenia. Ljubljana.
• Martin-Kilcher, S. 2011, Römer und gentes Alpinae im Konflikt – archäologische und historische Zeugnisse des 1. Jahrhunderts v. Chr. – In/V: G. Moosbauer, R. Wiegels (eds./ur.), Fines imperii – imperium sine fine? Römische Okkupations- und Grenzpolitik im frühen Principat, Beiträge zum Kongress “Fines imperii – imperium sine fine?” Osnabrück vom 14. bis 18. September 2009, Osnabrücker Forschungen zu Altertum und Antike-Rezeption 14, Rahden/Westfalen, 27–62.
• Olcese, G. 2003. Ceramiche comuni a Roma e in area romana: produzione, circolazione e tecnologia (tarda età repubblicana – prima età imperiale). Documenti di archeologia 28, Mantova.
• Oxé, A., Comfort, H., Kenrick, Ph. 2000. Corpus Vasorum Arretinorum, 2nd ed. Antiquitas Ser. 3, 41, Bonn.
• Strong D., Brown, D. ur. 1976, Roman Crafts, London.
• Pollard, M. A., Heron, C., and Armitage, R. A., 2017, Archaeological chemistry, The Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge.
• Tomber R. in Dore, J. 1998. The National Roman fabric reference collection. A handbook. Museum of London Archaeology Service Monograph 2, London.
• Turk, P., Laharnar, B., Istenič, J., Pavlovič, D.2019, Začetki metalurgije = Beginnings of metallurgy. V/In: Kotar, J., Lazar, T., Fajfar, P. (ur./ed). Ko zapoje kovina: tisočletja metalurgije na Slovenskem = The song of metal: millennia of metallurgy in Slovenia. Ljubljana. 24-55.
• Voß, H.-U., Hammer, P., Lutz, J. 1998, Römische und germanische Bunt- und Edelmetalfunde im Vergleich. – Bericht der Römisch-Germanischen Kommission 79, 107–382.

Objectives and competences

The notion “small archaeological finds” designates finds that were not integrated into architecture or other fixed structures at the time of their discovery. These finds are also referred to as “movable archaeological heritage.” Based on their material, these small finds can be classified as ceramic, metal, glass, amber, stone, and bone objects, as well as objects made from other materials that are very rare among archaeological finds; for example, wood, leather, textiles, and other organic materials. The best-researched groups of small finds are tableware, oil lamps, amphorae, brooches, weapons, metal vessels, coins, and inscriptions (on stone or on other material). Chronological determination of small finds was the main objective in past research on the Roman period. Although chronological questions are far from being completely answered, modern research is also directed towards studying small finds in the sense of technology, trade, and economics, as well as cultural and social history. Special research methods for small finds (except coins and inscriptions) are presented to students. The aim of this course is to acquaint students with selected problems of Roman material culture and the techniques that lead from a group of objects or from a single object to broad historical conclusions. The course is organized in an interdisciplinary manner.

Intended learning outcomes

Students should learn how to:

• classify small archaeological finds using established/published typo/cronologies,
• plan and conduct research on movable archaeological heritage,
• write well structured, precise, clear and concise scientific publications.

Learning and teaching methods:

Types of learning/teaching:

• Independent students work
• e-learning

Teaching methods:

• Explanation
• Conversation/discussion/debate
• Work with texts
• Case studies
• Different presentation

Assessment

• Long written assignment (70 %),
• presentation (20 %),
• final examination (written/oral) (10 %).

Lecturer’s references

• Istenič, J., Ragolič, A., 2023, Roman military decoration Torques : literary, epigraphic, representational and archaeological evidence / Rimsko vojaško odlikovanje Torkves : literarni, epigrafski in arheološki viri ter upodobitve. Katalogi in monografije 46, Ljubljana.
• Istenič, J. 2023, Grad near Reka, Gradišče in Cerkno, and Vrh Gradu near Pečine : pre-Roman places of worship?. V/In: Horvat, J., Bernardini, F., Belak, M. (ur./ed.), The Roman conquest beyond Aquileia: (II−I centuries BC), Opera Instituti Archaeologici Sloveniae, 45, 111–125.
• Istenič, J. 2022, Roman weapons in watery contexts. V/In: Deschler-Erb, E. (ur./ed.). Waffen im rituellen Kontext : Akten der 20. internationalen Konferenz für Römische Militärausrüstung, Journal of Roman military equipment studies, vol. 21, 31–41.
• Istenič, J., Šmit, Ž. 2021, Non-ferrous metals in Roman (Late Republican and Early Imperial) military equipment from the River Ljubljanica, central Slovenia. V/In: Török, B., Giumlia-Mair, A. (ur./eds.). Proceedings of the 5th International Conference “Archaeometallurgy in Europe”, Monographies Instrumentum, 73, 329–354.
• Istenič, J. 2018, Roman bronze helmets from the Republican period and the Early Principate in Slovenia = Rimske bronaste čelade republikanske dobe in zgodnjega principata v Sloveniji; translation Andreja Maver. Arheološki vestnik 69, 277-334.
• Istenič, J. 2019, Caligati in the eastern hinterland of Aquileia up to the Early Augustan period. V/In: Dolenz, H., Strobel, K., Chronologie und vergleichende Chronologien zum Ausgang der Römischen Republik und zur Frühen Kaiserzeit: Tagungsband des internationalen Kolloquiums anlässlich 70 Jahre Archäologische Ausgrabungen auf dem Magdalensberg: zugleich Festgabe für Eleni Schindler Kaudela. Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Kärntner Museumsschriften 87, 271-295