From Soil to Showcase
Organization
Organized by Scuola Normale Superiore, the course is funded by the PNRR through the MERITA, the network for talent project*.
Date: 08 - 17 June 2026
Location: Parco Archeologico e Paesaggistico della Valle dei Templi, Regional Archaeological Museum "P. Griffo" (Agrigento) and the archaeological museums of Syracuse, Lentini and Naxos
Total hours: 54
Max participants: 6
Language: Italian and English
Application deadline: 27 April 2026
Admission requirements: enrollment in courses of Undergraduate Degree in Cultural Heritage or Classics, Master's Degree in Archaeology, PhD; Undergraduate or Master's Degrees in the aforementioned disciplines.
Target audience: enrollment in courses of Undergraduate Degree in Cultural Heritage or Classics, Master's Degree in Archaeology, new graduates, PhD candidates or young researchers.
The course “From Soil to Showcase. Current Approaches to Ancient Material Culture and Museum Studies” aims to introduce BA, MA, PhD students and recent graduates to the analysis and interpretation of ancient objects and the modern strategies of their museum display and enhancement. Through hands-on activities and direct work in museum collections, the course aims to bridge the gap between archaeological fieldwork (the soil) and museum public engagement (the showcase). The program includes seminar sessions on the concept of “material culture” and approaches to the study of archaeological objects in context, and laboratorial activities on authentic archaeological finds from fieldwork (from description to classification, from documentation to historical interpretation). The second part of the program, instead, aims at applying these archaeological and historical competences to actual museum exhibitions, with the purpose of fostering discussion on museum communication and display strategies of archaeological finds. The second part of the program, therefore, includes seminars and guided tours to the archaeological museums of Syracuse, Lentini, Naxos.
Applicants must submit an application using the dedicated form no later than April 27, 2026 and attach a short biographical note outlining the candidate research or study interest (max 600 words).
In case of login or access issues, please visit the official SNS portal. Once on the homepage, navigate to the dedicated section titled 'CORSI ALTA FORMAZIONE', where you will find the specific form required for submission.
Participation in the course does not entail enrollment fees.
Admission to the course includes participation in lectures, teaching materials, meals from June 8 to 13, lodging, and travel expenses.
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