Alberese Archaeological Project

The project's own Sandro Sebastiani and Tom Derrick will be delivering a paper entitled 'A regional economy of recycling over four centuries at Spolverino (Tuscany) and environs' at All Souls College, Oxford in September. If anyone would like to come, the event is free to attend but you need to register in advance as places are limited. See the link for more information.

Day 20 - 2017 Winter School
On what was the final full day in Grosseto for the 2017 Winter school program, turned out to be the most breath taking. After a whirlwind experience over the past four weeks the study tour ended with a visit to Pitigliano, and Sorano. With their breath taking vistas, panoramas and architectural structures these to cities highlighted the scenic qualities of the southern Tuscan area. Whilst continuing to learn, in detail, about the early Etruscan set...tlements through the the late medieval dwellings, the students continued to delve into the rich and engaging history of the local regions. With passionate and knowledgeable guides, Matteo and Elena, and their assistants, Edoardo and Stefano, the group was in very capable hands, and had the privilege to experience the deeply proud and culturally centred cities with immense intrigue.
As well as experiencing a wonderful scenic drive home and a day of breathtaking panoramas the students also came to the stage at the completion of all great tasks when we must review. As the sheer expanse of this once in a lifetime experience is so great I will surmise with a brief note. As a child I fell in love with the art of history. I did not, however, believe that my passion and drive would lead to me the beautiful town of Grosseto. Over the past four weeks, I speak candidly on behalf of my fellow colleagues in saying, it has been a truly eye opening experience. As a group, with the help of expert academics, we have been able to study the very artifacts we spend our days researching in catalogues and books, but to hold and draw, as well as research first hand the objects is a whole other story. We have gone past our usual research patterns and been enlightened in the material cultural studies of history. As well as the incredible knowledge we have learnt, we have also made friendships that are bound with a common love for history, which in my opinion is a friendship worth savouring for many years to come.
On a final, parting note, as a collective we would like to thank all of those associated with the Alberese project, for without their efforts this program wouldn't be possible. As well as a huge thanks to our mentor and professor Dr Janette McWilliams whose tireless efforts have given us the chance to partake in this wonderful endeavour.
Dominic C Ragonesi
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Still some time for the last trip.. Pitigliano and Sovana!

Day 19 – 2017 Winter School
We all have mixed emotions today, our last day in the labs (and the penultimate day of our course). What a wonderful journey this has been, meeting and working with the academics from the University of Sheffield, Leicester, Siena and the Alberese Archaeological Project including the delightful and learned Valentina Pica who has taught us so much about small finds this week.
Having handled, drawn and researched small objects ranging from nails of a...ll sizes and descriptions to hairpins; keys and locks to tiny tintinnabulum (bells with an apotropaic function) and precious stones we continued today to research typology, and find comparisons for recently recovered finds from Pod Toninelli. This is an archaeological rescue site and it has been such a treat, and also a challenge, to think laterally and attempt to identify these rare finds.
We were honoured this morning to meet the charming new councillor of the Province of Grosseto, Olga Ciaramella and the esteemed President of the Polo Universitario Sede Grosseto (University of Siena), Gabriella Morelli. Olga is responsible for the cultural office in the Province. Both graciously welcomed our presence in Grosseto and stressed the importance to the town of the Alberese Archaeological Project of which we are extremely privileged to be a part. Elena and Matteo both spoke of the valued relationship between the Commune of Grosseto and the Project and thanked Janette for organising and supervising the Winter School. Janette then thanked the Commune, the Polo Universitario Sede Grosseto, the University of Siena and the Alberese Archaeological Project for their hospitality in hosting students from University of Queensland (UQ) for the past four years. She also spoke about the importance of the Winter School because of the opportunity it gives us, students from UQ, not only to work on the finds from the excavation, but also to learn from international experts and to experience the wonderful culture and history of the Maremma region. All parties look forward to ongoing collaboration.
It is sad to be leaving this environment where we have enjoyed such generous hospitality and been given excellent learning opportunities, but we also look forward to our final field trip tomorrow then returning home.
Vivien Muller
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Day 19 - 2017 Winter School
Today in the workshops we moved on from drawing the small finds and began to analyse and identify the fragments. We collected our drawings and through a series of documents compared diagnostic pieces with those previously identified. My group identified different types of nails, hairpins, and lead weights. At the same time, it could be challenging to find objects in the library with the same shape and features as the ones we had. Many times, they ...were almost right but not quite. After lunch Valentina pulled out some new finds. These objects were first dug up by a tomb raider, which I thought was really cool, and then returned to the site. Despite these objects not having a context we still drew them as they are still important. My group looked at several interesting pieces, including bells, decorations, handles and more.
Zabrynn Lander
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http://www.grossetonotizie.com/attestati- studenti-australi…/

Day 18 - 2017 Winter School
Today the labs turned into an art studio, with the group as Valentina's apprentices. Our skills were further developed by drawing more small finds from the Umbro Flumen site. We discovered the great attention to detail that is necessary in successfully representing these items, which today included nails, locks and keys, weights, metal slag and a small bronze bell. This afternoon, Valentina showed us bronze studs from a ship's hull, and explained ...the typologies involved with these items. She was also kind enough to introduce us to her database, and the process she follows to search and match the materials, making it possible to determine what objects have been drawn and what diagnostic objects are yet to be drawn. So far Valentina, as an excellent mentor, has demonstrated to us a highly involved section of material culture. It has proved to be a productive and interesting day and we look forward to learning more about the theoretical aspects of small finds tomorrow.
Kaeli Krakowski
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Day 17 - 2017 Winter School
Today the Alberese winter interns began a week of study and lab work dedicated to small finds with Valentina Pica. We began the day with a lecture on the varied small finds encountered commonly at the archaeological sites in the area, these included nails, fishing equipment, hair pins, beads, game figures, and jewellery. We then proceeded to apply the theoretical information we had gained in the lecture within a practical space and began photograph...ing and drawing nails and finishing net weights. During the afternoon we were fortunate enough to be given a lecture by Dr Giovanna Pizziolo of the University of Siena on landscape-based prehistory within the Grosseto region. During this lecture we discovered the great environmental changes that had occurred within the area between the Pleistocene and Copper Ages particularly within two case studies of the shoreline and comparatively, local caves. Today proved a compelling introduction to a field with such varied finds, Valentina Pica has already proved to be an incredibly knowledgeable and patient supervisor and we are all greatly looking forward to the discoveries we will make and the practical skills we will learn in the upcoming week.
Isabelle Jones
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