How to Read a Ruin



Overview

Ancient buildings are often considered important landmarks in our cities. It could be a Norman tower, or a single Roman wall – our perspective on these vestiges of antiquity compels us to relate to them, to respect them.

They are meaningful ruins, not just integrated in our current urban landscape, but often contributing to the definition of its identity. Why are they meaningful? Why are we fascinated by old buildings and ruins? What can we learn from them? How can we read them?

This course aims at providing methodological tools for students interested in answering these questions. Broadly considering a ruin as a trace of a building phase (an old building, or portion of it, or just its name) included in a later or current urban fabric, this course will make use of archaeological methodologies to contextualise these vestiges, so that each student may become able to read the history of a building, understanding its different phases and roughly dating them.

The main focus will be given to the Roman and Classical periods, through case studies from Rome and London. Mediaeval and Post Mediaeval structures, especially from Oxford, will also be part of this course. Finally, relevant concepts such as phasing, legacy, and cityscape will be investigated using an historical perspective informed of the current Material Engagement Theories (MET), to problematise the relationship between the ruins and us. 

Programme details

Courses starts: 20 Sep 2023

Week 0: Course orietation.

Week 1: Introduction to the course: deconstructing time – the concepts of stratigraphy and phasing.

Week 2: Building materials, their provenance, their use – focus on stones and on brickwork with examples from Imperial Rome and Mediaeval England.

Week 3: Building techniques and wall phasing – how to read a ruin.

Week 4: From walls to buildings – What is a legacy building?

Week 5: Legacy buildings pt.2 – Westminster Abbey.

Week 6: Walls, brooks, and gates – Uncovering Roman Londinium between ruins and toponymy.

Week 7: The ruin of a ruin of a ruin – the Roman Forum.

Week 8: The legacy of a concept – the Imperial fora, the Palatine hill.

Week 9: The legacy of a concept pt.2 – the Roman forum in the Renaissance.

Week 10: Materialising the cityscape – the city as a stratigraphy of lived spaces

Certification

Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £257.00
Take this course for CATS points £10.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Mr Corso Dominici

I am a classical archaeologist, doctoral student at the University of Oxford. I focus on pre-Roman Italy and early Roman expansion. Prior to this I have been working in commercial archaeology for several years in London.

Course aims

The  purpose of this course is to gain a better comprehension of the built environment, and of the social and artistic value of its multi-stratified history. We shall investigate how buildings evolve with society, thus forming the cityscape, by assessing relevant case-studies from ancient Rome and ancient and Mediaeval London. 

Course objectives:

  • Learn the basic concepts of historical analysis and archaeological stratigraphy through architectonic survey.
  • Explore the artistic, social and historical value of famous ruins and buildings.
  • Enable students to critically approach and appreciate an historic building.

Teaching methods

A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used, taking into consideration the different learning styles and possible special needs of students. We will use tutor presentations and explanations, substantial visual material and handouts, some documentary footage and extensive discussion.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

  • recognise and appreciate the social importance of urban architectonic stratigraphy;
  • identify and problematise some of the basic uses of building materials and techniques in Roman and Mediaeval times;
  • move around important historic architectonic landmarks understanding how to interpret the ruins of the past.

 

Assessment methods

You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due by week 5 of your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

Application

We will close for enrolments 7 days prior to the start date to allow us to complete the course set up. We will email you at that time (7 days before the course begins) with further information and joining instructions. As always, students will want to check spam and junk folders during this period to ensure that these emails are received.

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form (Word) or enrolment form (Pdf).

Level and demands

Most of the Department's weekly classes have 10 or 20 CATS points assigned to them. 10 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of ten 2-hour sessions. 20 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of twenty 2-hour sessions. It is expected that, for every 2 hours of tuition you are given, you will engage in eight hours of private study.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support