This version of the course guide is provisional until the period for editing the new course guides ends.

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Epigraphy and Numismatics

Code: 100382 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2500241 Archaeology OT 3
2500241 Archaeology OT 4
2500501 History OT 4

Contact

Name:
Alessando Ravotto
Email:
alessandro.ravotto@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

Basic notions of Latin morphology and grammar.

For the numismatics part, there is no need to have prior knowledge of numismatics.


Objectives and Contextualisation

Latin epigraphy as a historical source and its relationship with archaeology. Utilization of the reciprocal usefulness between these two disciplines.

Ancient and medieval numismatics as a historical discipline applied to archaeology: basic principles of coin classification and sequencing, reading them as archaeological documents for the historical interpretation of a site.


Competences

    Archaeology
  • Generating innovative and competitive proposals in research and professional activity.
  • Managing the main methods, techniques and analytic tools in archaeology.
  • Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethic relevant issues.
    History
  • Applying the main methods, techniques and instruments of the historical analysis.
  • Mastering the methodology of the palaeographic work for the several historical periods.
  • Producing innovative and competitive proposals in research and professional activity.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Applying techniques in order to quickly and completely understand texts in Latin.
  2. Autonomously searching, selecting and processing information both from structured sources (databases, bibliographies, specialized magazines) and from across the network.
  3. Autonomously searching, selecting and processing information both from structured sources (databases, bibliographies, specialized magazines) and from across the network. Expertly making use of the possibilities of Internet.
  4. Establishing investigation protocols for original research projects.
  5. Establishing research protocols for original research projects.
  6. Managing the main historical investigation techniques.
  7. Organising and planning the search of historical information.
  8. Reading and interpreting manuscripts, inscriptions and diplomas of the antiquity and Middle, Modern and Contemporary Ages.
  9. Reading historical texts written in several formats.
  10. Solving practical exercises of grammatical knowledge.
  11. Transcribing and interpreting epigraphic texts.
  12. Using computing resources of the area of study of history.
  13. Using epigraphic texts as historical sources.

Content

1. Epigraphy. Concepts, applications, methodology. Epigraphy and archaeology.
2. Typology of inscriptions according to their purpose.
3. The epigraphic support and its context.
4. The epigraphic text. Lettering, formulas, abbreviations.
5. Religious inscriptions.
6. Funerary inscriptions.
7. Honorific inscriptions; monumental inscriptions.
8. Legal inscriptions.
9. Other types of inscriptions.
10. Christian inscriptions.
11. The evolution of epigraphy. Medieval inscriptions.
12. Epigraphic corpora and repertoires.


13. Coinage. Definition and basic principles.
14. Issues, mints, and manufacturing.
15. Documentation and classification of coins.
16. Greek coinage.
17. Issues of Emporion and Rhode.
18. Phoenician and Carthaginian coinage.
19. Roman Republican coinage.
20. Iberian coinage.
21. Roman provincial coinage in Hispania.
22. Roman imperial coinage.
23. Historical interpretation: coinage in archaeology.
24. Historical interpretation: monetary circulation.
25. Medieval coins: social contexts.
26. Early medieval coins: Suevi, Vandals, Byzantine, and Visigothic (5th-8th centuries).
27. Andalusian coinage (8th-15th centuries).
28. Coins of the Catalan counties and the Hispanic kingdoms (10th-15th centuries).


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Practices 75 3 1, 3, 8, 10, 9, 11, 13
Theory 75 3 1, 2, 3, 6, 4, 5, 8, 7, 10, 9, 11, 12, 13

Exposition of the necessary elements to be able to read and interpret an inscription.

Continuous practice of reading inscriptions in class.

Visit to a museum/archaeological site containing epigraphic material.

The numismatics classes will be conducted with the graphic support of an extensive coin repertoire.

Numismatic documentation practices will also be conducted in class.

Note: 15 minutes of one class, within the schedule established by the center/degree program, will be reserved for students to complete the surveys for evaluating the teaching performance and the course/module.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Active participation in class 10 0 0 1, 2, 3, 6, 4, 5, 8, 7, 10, 9, 11, 12, 13
Practical exercise on methodologies covered in class (I) 50 0 0 1, 9, 11, 13
Practical exercise on methodologies covered in class (II) 40 0 0 1, 9, 11, 13

Continuous Assessment:

 

Epigraphy section:

It will be based on the exercises done in class throughout the course and a final exam, all based on the reading and interpretation of different inscriptions.

Numismatics section:

The assessment of the numismatics section will be carried out through a previously announced exam.

The final grade of the subject is global, made up of the final grades of both sections, that is, by adding the epigraphy and numismatics parts.

A student who does not take all the scheduled assessment exams in the classroom or does not attend mandatory assessment activities worth 60% or more of the final grade will be graded as 'Not Assessable' and will not be able to take the reassessment.

 

Single Assessment:

The single assessment will be carried out through a written exam that includes both sections (epigraphy and numismatics).

The assessment corresponding to "active participation in class" will be replaced by the completion of an individual assignment, which must be submitted on the same day as the written exam.

 

Reassessment:

The reassessment will be held on the official dates established by the Faculty. Under no circumstances can the reassessment be used to improve the grade of a student who has already passed the course in the normal continuous assessment process.

 

Any irregularity committed by a student during a test (copying, plagiarism) will result in a grade of zero for that specific assessment section. Multiple irregularities will result in an overall grade of zero.

Students will have the right to review the results of the tests taken. The teacher will establish the mechanisms for doing so in a timely manner.

Particular cases will be taken into account and will receive, as expected, individual treatment.


Bibliography

Epigraphic bibliography:

Andreu, Javier, Fundamentos de Epigrafía Latina, Madrid 2009.

Bruun, Christer; Edmondson, Jonathan (eds.) (2014), The Oxford Handbook of Roman Epigraphy, Oxford-New York.

Calabi, Ida, Epigrafia latina, Milano, 1991.

Corbier, Paul, Epigrafia latina, Universidad de Granada, 2004.

Di Stefano, Ivan, Mestiere di epigrafia, Roma, 1987.

Iglesias, José Manuel / Santos, Juan, Vademecum para la epigrafía y numismática latinas, Santander, 2002

Lassère, Jean Marie, Manuel d'épigraphie romane, Paris, 2005.

López Barja, Pedro, Epigrafía latina: las inscripciones romanas desde los orígenes al siglo III d.C., Santiago de Compostela, 1993.

Susini, Gian Carlo, Epigrafia romana, Roma, 1982.


Repertories of ancient numismatics:

Crawford, M. H., Roman Republican Coinage , Cambridge, 1974.

Amandry, M.,  Burnett, A. M.,  Mairat, J.,  Metcalf, W. E., Roman Provincial Coinage , Paris‐Londres, 1992

A.A. V.V., Roman Imperial Coinage, 9 vols., Londres, 1923‐2007.


Catalogs and reference works for medieval numismatics:

Balaguer, A. M. Història de la moneda dels comtats catalans , 1999

Crusafont, M., Acuñaciones de la Corona Catalano-Aragonesa y de los Reinos de Aragón y Navarra. Medioevo y tránsito a la Edad Moderna, Editorial Vico & Segarra, Madrid, 1992

Vico, J. et al., Corpus nummorum visigothorum , Madrid, 2006

Vives Escudero, A, Monedas de las dinastías arábigo-españolas , 1893 (ed. facsímil, Extramuros, 2008).


Software

It does not require specific software


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed