Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "ARCH/NS 310"
COURSE NAME: "Environmental Archaeology and Paleoclimatology"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2026

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Jens Koehler
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course is an introduction to Environmental Archaeology and Paleoclimatology, the studies of the interactions between humans and environment. Human history (like settlement-patterns, migration, and economies) depended on environmental factors, and, in turn, humans had an impact on the landscapes they were living in. The course will examine the composite archaeological approaches to this: The studies of Earth, Fauna, and Flora collectively known as Environmental Archaeology, as well as Palaeoclimatological analyses of long-term patterns and variations in temperature and humidity; all factors that strongly conditioned the environment. The course is a critical engagement with the primary data, as well as with the scientific and archaeological approaches and the research of the fields.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

Human history was determined by the favorable or hostile environmental conditions and could be brought to abrupt stops by disasters such as floods, droughts, or seismic events. On the other hand, humans have impacted their environment, the landscape, and the climate since Prehistory – and continue to do so.

The course brings together a range of fields related to the study of human history and environment: Geoarchaeology, Zooarchaeology, and Archaeobotany are dedicated respectively to the research of remains of soils and sediments, animals, and plants; Paleoclimatology attempts to reconstruct temperatures and rainfall patterns of the past when any scientific documentation is lacking. Combining these studies offers exceptionally rich evidence of change and interaction. While the course adopts a global perspective, the case studies that form the basis for detailed examination will mostly focus on Italy and the Mediterranean in historical periods.

The course will engage students in a critical assessment of primary data and secondary literature in the fields of Archaeology and Climatology. Discussions will address not only reasons and results but will place particular focus on understanding formation processes. It will further provide opportunities to acquire experience in sedimentological analyses, identification of animal bones and plant remains, and in climatological datasets.

Required study visits and expected expenditure for the students: on-site visit Rome Friday, March 15.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students will learn how to

· Approach disciplines unfamiliar to the student

· Interpret data and statistics on environmental and climate research

· Discover and analyze related data from antiquity

· Combine studies on environment and climate with ancient sources

Students will acquire and develop skills to

· Prepare focused presentations on selected topics

· Discuss new questions raised in recent research

· Undertake bibliographical search in a highly specialized field to write an academic paper

Relate natural sciences and humanistic studies

TEXTBOOK:

NONE

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Oral presentation	Each student will give one oral presentation: a case-study on ancient environment or climate.. The presentation of 10 minutes should be accompanied by a class handout (1-2 pages). Date of presentation as best related to the class schedule.	25
Research paper	The paper should be 5-7 double-spaced pages, exclusive of images and bibliography. due dates: see schedule.	25
Midterm test	The midterm test will consist in short questions and an essay question. Date: see schedule.	20
Final exam	The final exam takes place in the week of April 29 - May 3. It consists in identification, short questions and cumulative essay questions.	25
Paper outline	The outline of 1-2 pages should include a thesis, possible chapters, and a first bibliography.	5

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Schedule

T, Jan. 20 – 1. Introduction classroom G.K.1.2

Syllabus, schedule, course practice. Coursework: oral presentation, final paper.

L. Thommen, An Environmental History of Ancient Greece and Rome, 2012, 1-9.

Th, Jan. 22 – 2. Overview

Humans and their Environment. Geographical overview. The ancient world.

Thommen 1-9.

T, Jan. 27 – 3. Principles and Research

A global and diachronic approach to environment.

Thommen 10-16; J. G. Evans, An Introduction to Environmental Archaeology, 1978.

Th , Jan. 29 – 4. Research and Theories

Importance of the environment for human evolution.

Thommen 10-16. 29ff. 76ff. 141-142.

T, Feb. 3 – 5. Geology pick oral presentation topic

Landscape and subsoil. Quarries and building material.

Thommen 19ff. 62ff. 69ff. 121ff. 132ff. 144. 146; W. Alvarez, The Mountains of Saint Francis: Discovering the Geologic Events That Shaped Our Earth, 2008; G. Heiken, R. Funiciello, D. de Rita, The Seven Hills of Rome: A Geological Tour of the Eternal City 2007.

Th, Feb. 5 – 6. Geology

Landslides and aeolian erosion. Case studies: Rome, Agrigento.

T, Feb. 10 - 7. Rivers

Resources for settlement and irrigation. Transportation and trade.

Thommen 146. 182 s. v. floods. 185 s. v. rivers; G. S. Aldrete, Floods of the Tiber in Ancient Rome, 2007.

Th, Feb. 12 - 8. Rivers

The threat of flooding. Case studies: Mesopotamia, Marzabotto, the Tiber in Rome.

T, Feb. 17 – 9. Coastlines

The Sea and natural harbors. Change of coastline, sea-level variations.

Thommen 111. 181 s. v. coast. 184 s. v. Ostia. 185 s. v. river mouths. Sicily; P. Howdon – N. Purcell, The Corrupting Sea: A Study of Mediterranean History, 2000; www.ostia-antica.org

Th, Feb. 19 – no lesson (for site visit 4/10)

T, Feb. 24 – 10. Coastlines and Lakes

Sea trade and artificial ports. Case studies: Greek colonies, Ostia, Lake Fucino, Lake Nemi emissary.

Th, Feb. 26 - 11. Research, Geology, Rivers, Coastlines.

Thommen 29ff 76ff.

T, Mar. 3 – 12. Review for midterm test

Th, Mar. 5 – 13. Midterm test

T, Mar. 10 and Th, Mar. 12 - no lesson (Spring break)

T, Mar. 17 – 14. Volcanology start of oral presentations

Seismic events. Volcanic eruptions and Bradyseism. Agricultural benefits and risk control.

Thommen 59ff. 114ff. 146. 181 s. v. Campania; T. Froehlich – L. Jacobelli, Archaeologie und Seismologie, 1995; R. V. Fisher - G. Heiken - J. B. Hulen, Volcanoes: Crucibles of Change, 1998; H. Sigurdsson, Encyclopedia of Volcanoes, 2000.

Th, Mar. 19 – 15. Volcanology

Case studies: Thera/Santorini, Catania, Pompeii and Herculaneum, Mount Vesuvius eruption, Pozzuoli and Baia.

T, Mar. 24 – 16. Hydrogeology

Groundwater, Aquifers, and Spring systems.

Thommen 57ff, 111ff.; P. Erfurt, The Geoheritage of Hot Springs, 2021; U. Kafri – Y. Yechieli, The Many Facets of Israel's Hydrogeology, 2021; G. Polizzi – V. Ollivier – S. Bouﬃer, From Hydrology to Hydroarchaeology in the Ancient Mediterranean, 2022

Th, Mar. 26 – 17. Hydrogeology paper outline due

Geothermalism and spas. Case studies: Viterbo, Southern Etruria, Spain, Israel.

T, Mar. 31 – 18. Climate

Temperature. Influence on Flora and Fauna. Climatic changes as dating tool.

Thommen 181 s. v. climate; R. S. Bradley, Paleoclimatology: Reconstructing the Climates of the Quaternary, 2014; K. Harper, The Fate of Rome: Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire, 2017.

Th, Apr. 2 – 19. Climate

Ice age and younger Dryas, the 8.2ka event, Roman Warm, Little Ice Age.

T, Apr. 7 – 20. Rainfall

The Fertile Crescent. Rainfall minimum and agriculture, rain harvesting.

Thommen 33ff. 79ff. 145. 184 s. v. Near East; D. Hollander – T. Howe, A Companion to Ancient Agriculture, 2020

Th, Apr. 9 – 21. Rainfall

Floods and landslides. Flood control, sewers, dams. African Mega lakes, the Biblical Flood,

G. S. Aldrete, Floods of the Tiber in Ancient Rome, 2007.

T, Apr. 14 – 22. Drought

Changing precipitations. Erosion, desertification, the Akkadian drought.

Thommen 37ff. 85ff. 145. 184 s. v. Near East; P. F. Biehl – O. Nieuwenhuyse (ed.), Climate and cultural change in prehistoric Europe and the Near East, 2016; M. van de Mieroop, A History of the Ancient Near East, 3rd ed. 2016.

Th, Apr. 16 – 23. Drought

Water supply, wells, qanats, aqueducts.

T, Apr. 21 – 24. Zooarchaeology

Aquatic animals, frogs. Fishing. Domesticated animals. Human diet based on bovine or pigs.

Thommen 45ff. 95ff. 145; D. Gifford-Gonzalez, An Introduction to Zooarchaeology, 2018; U. Albarella et al. (ed.), Themes in Old World Zooarchaeology: From the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, 2021.

Th, Apr. 23 – no lesson (for site visit 4/24)

Fri, Apr. 24, 10 a.m. (TBC) – 25. & 26. on-site visit: Ancient Rome’s Environment

Geology, quakes, fires, and floods. Building materials. Sewers. Tiber and flood markers.

Thommen 103ff. 124ff. 147; G. Heiken, R. Funiciello, D. de Rita, The Seven Hills of Rome: A Geological Tour of the Eternal City 2007; G. S. Aldrete, Floods of the Tiber in Ancient Rome, 2007

T, Apr. 28 – 27. Archeobotany

Vegetation as indicator of climate, temperature, and rainfall. Agriculture and diet.

Thommen 42ff. 49ff. 90ff. 98ff. 146; A. VanDerwarker - T. M. Peres (ed.), Integrating Zooarchaeology and Paleoethnobotany: A Consideration of Issues, Methods, and Cases, 2010;

M. Madella (ed.), Ancient Plants and People: Contemporary Trends in Archaeobotany, 2016.

Th, Apr. 30 – 28. Conclusions paper due

Humans and their environment once and now. Reciprocal impact. Climate change or catastrophe? Review for final exam.

May 5-9 (TBA) – Final exam