Recovering the Humankind's Past and Saving the Universal Heritage

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/preserving-cultural-heritage

Introduction

### Course Review: Recovering the Humankind's Past and Saving the Universal Heritage In an era where the importance of preserving our cultural heritage is more prominent than ever, Coursera has introduced a timely and insightful course titled **"Recovering the Humankind's Past and Saving the Universal Heritage."** This course offers a comprehensive overview of the field of archaeology, emphasizing its critical role in rediscovering, preserving, and protecting our shared cultural heritage. #### Overview and Objectives The course begins with a clear objective: to help students understand the dual narrative of archaeology — not just as a tool for discovering past civilizations but also as a means of ensuring the protection of that heritage for future generations. Participants will delve into the methodologies used in archaeology, grasp the interdisciplinary nature of the field, and reflect on responsible practices as guardians of our universal patrimony. #### Course Structure and Syllabus The course is structured into eight weeks, each dedicated to a thematic focus that contributes to a holistic understanding of archaeology: 1. **Week 1 - The Recovery of the Human Past**: This foundational week discusses how ancient societies maintained a memory of their history and what modern archaeological practices are in place to preserve this past. 2. **Week 2 - The Birth of Archaeology**: Participants explore the evolution of archaeology from a mere collection practice to a contemporary science, intertwining technical advancements and holistic approaches. 3. **Week 3 - Field Archaeology Responsibilities**: This week highlights the ethical considerations of excavation and the balance between discovery and conservation. It emphasizes that each dig not only reveals artifacts but also causes irreversible changes to historical sites. 4. **Week 4 - Understanding Archaeological Contexts**: Students will learn about the varying methodologies used based on environmental contexts and the importance of maintaining accurate chronological frameworks through scientific techniques. 5. **Week 5 - Knowledge Dissemination and Legitimacy**: Focuses on the complexities of sharing archaeological findings with the public and the political implications that often accompany this dissemination. 6. **Week 6 - Digitizing Cultural Objects**: This practical week introduces students to cutting-edge techniques in 3D reconstruction and the significance of digitization in preserving cultural heritage. 7. **Week 7 - Data Management in Cultural Heritage**: Participants will come to grips with how to effectively manage an unprecedented amount of digital data, emphasizing structured information for better accessibility. 8. **Week 8 - Global Protection Principles**: The final week wraps up with discussions about the global responsibility of safeguarding cultural heritage against threats such as illegal digging and the impacts of cultural intolerance. #### Who Should Take This Course? This course is highly recommended for anyone interested in archaeology, cultural heritage management, museum studies, history, or anthropology. It is particularly beneficial for: - **Students**: Those pursuing degrees in related fields will find the course content invaluable. - **Professionals**: Archaeologists, museum curators, and cultural heritage managers seeking to enhance their knowledge and skill set. - **Curious Learners**: Anyone with an interest in history and the preservation of cultural heritage will find this course accessible and engaging. #### Course Delivery Format Delivered through Coursera's online platform, the course features a mix of video lectures, readings, and interactive assignments. The collaborative activities encourage peer engagement, making the learning experience richer and more dynamic. The flexible schedule allows for self-paced learning, accommodating the demands of modern life. #### Final Thoughts "Recovering the Humankind's Past and Saving the Universal Heritage" is not just a course; it’s a crucial call to action for anyone concerned about cultural heritage preservation. The blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills prepares students to contribute to the field meaningfully. For those looking to deepen their understanding of archaeology's role in contemporary society and become advocates for our collective heritage, this course comes highly recommended. Don’t miss the chance to engage with the past while advocating for its protection for the future—enroll today!

Syllabus

COURSE INFORMATION & COLLABORATIVE ACTIVITIES

The inter-disciplinary perspective of Archaeology, the Ebla discovery, the use of ICT technologies and the introduction of the Europeana Data Model as a framework for collecting, connecting and enriching data will be the focus of the course.

We will start our enquiry by discussing how ancient societies kept memory of their own past, an aspect which, in fact, was fundamental to their identity. Shifting towards modern times, we will then reflect how the material past is preserved and how we refer to it. Homework available since

The study of the past of the planet marked the first serious reflections on humankind’s past, although archaeology was in fact considered the practice to collect objects. “New Archaeology” represents the first major revolution, promptly followed by the more structured and aggressive “Processual Archaeology". The opening towards different disciplines implied the “loss of innocence” for archaeology, bringing at the same time scientific methods into the reconstructions of the past. Homework available since

Field archaeology entails discovery, but is a matter of fact that discovering brings a great responsibility because it is a process of destruction. Digging means observing, recording, interpreting. Archaeological excavation is an harmonious trade-off between an intellectual and a manual labor. In fact, archaeological interpretation is a path shifting between identity and alterity. Homework available since

Material remains of the past and their state of recovery vary according also to environments. Surface surveys lead to a more intense knowledge of territories, visualizing archaeologicallandscapes in a variety of ecological situations. The objectives of archaeological research have been moulded in the historical development of the discipline. Historical sources have always been a sourceof inspiration for research, opening new problems. Chronology is a construct depending on dating tools, and scientific methods have been employed in determining an absolute chronology. Homework available since

This module focuses on scientific research and knowledge dissemination.The specificities of the past pose a problem in respect of popularization and simplification. The operational chain is made of exploration, dig, publication, conservation, dissemination, protection. However, the need for a legitimacy of the present has led also to political readings of the retrieval of the past. Present cultural identity is grounded in the retrieved past. The “past of the other” has often been refused throughout history down to modern times. Our perception of the past is made manifest in its material and virtual reconstruction starting from ruins. Further, “excessive exploitation” of the past represent a modern destruction. The archaeological excavation of Ebla (Syria) will be analyzed as case study. It is in fact an example of a research framed within historical archaeology, which, in the course of fifty years of research, turned into a global perspective. Homework available since Dic.: Quiz week 5

In this module, Emanuel Demetrescu will explain us the last methodologies and techniques in the field of 3D acquisition and reconstruction of cultural heriatage. These applications improve the knowledge and preservation and have a central role in the way we can communicate cultural heritage to the society. Making digital copies from real objects now has several very fun and precise technologies that are also available to everybody at very low cost budget. Demetrescu will show us how to use these tools to make our own models and share them with others. The virtual reconstruction of no-more-exstant objects (like a lost temple) will be the argument of the last part of the module: a state of the art of the methodologies will help us to understand how to approach such a process from a scientific point of view (archaeological method). Homework available since 1 Jan.: Quiz week 6

In this module, Andrea Vitaletti will show us the basic techniques to effectively manage the unprecedented amount of digital contents on cultural objects nowadays offered by cultural heritage providers. Raw data, need to be organized in structured information in order to effectively support advanced functionalities, such as indexing and searching. We will present the basic techniques to structure the data in order to facilitate the access to digital contents and we will focus on the European Data Model, a framework for collecting, connecting and enriching data on cultural objects provided by a number of museum, archives, sites and libraries in Europe. Homework available since

This module deals with some basic issues and principles. All heritages are “equal among them”. Heritages are a property of humankind and not of the single countries. Heritages need to be protected and preserved in their context. But many threats are posed to heritages: illegal digging is a serious risk, as well as actions due to hatred for the “other” and his heritage. As a consequence of what stated above, damages to heritage are a crime against all humankind. International Organizations are engaged in protecting the heritage, the future of which represents a contribution to dialogue and peace. Homework available since