Since the late eighteenth century archaeology developed in Europe from antiquarianism and connoisseurship into an academic discipline with its own sets of problems and questions, methods and tools. The city of Rome played an exceptional role in this dynamic process of academic professionalization and institutionalization: Rome’s classical heritage had already been studied in the centuries before by eruditi from many countries, thus creating important transnational networks. In fact, the founding of the Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (1829) resulted from the efforts of such a group of scholars and dilettanti. Crucial here was the long-standing notion that antiquity represented the origin of civilization. In the course of the nineteenth century, however, this universal notion, merged with and was challenged by the birth of new nation states, including the kingdom of Italy (1861). Consequently, processes of nation building and the search for new national identities, rooting in a common past, started to play an important role in the formation of archaeology as a scholarly discipline. In many countries, the archaeological research agenda took shape within such national frameworks and Italy is a case in point. Romanità, and the Roman past that was shared by all Italians in and beyond Italy became the main ingredients of new narratives that served both the liberal governments since the country’s unification and the fascist regime of the 1920s and 1930s. However, the nature of these narratives, and hence the role of archaeology, differed dramatically. How did these processes contribute to the formation of archaeology in Academia as well as to various local, national and transnational identities and loyalties? This course questions how local, national and transnational archaeological institutions, projects, and networks interacted in Rome, while at the same time such initiatives (co)constituted the cultural hierarchies and imaginings that played a crucial role in the colonialist, racist and fascist worldviews of the modern era.
Coordinator
Dr. Susanna de Beer (KNIR), Dr. Nathalie de Haan (RU)
Teaching staff
Prof. Dr. Martijn Eickhoff (NIOD/RUG), Dr. Nathalie de Haan (RU)
Language
English
Target group and admission
The course is open to 10 selected (R)MA/ PhD students in Mediterranean or Roman Archaeology, Heritage Studies, Classics, Cultural History, Ancient History or Contemporary (Italian) History from KNIR partner universities (University of Amsterdam, Free University of Amsterdam, Leiden University, Utrecht University, Radboud University, University of Groningen).
Credits
The study load is the equivalent of 5 ECTS (140 hours). Each student should arrange with their university coordinator whether the course can be a part of their existing curriculum. After successful completion of the course, the KNIR provides a certificate mentioning study load and grade.
Costs
Participants will receive free tuition and excursions (including most entry fees for museums and archaeological sites). Travel expenses to and from Rome will be reimbursed up to € 100,- (or up € 125,- in case you travel by train) upon a successful completion of this course. Meals and personal expenses are not included.
Facilities in Rome
Participants will receive free tuition and excursions (including most entry fees for museums and archaeological sites). Travel expenses to and from Rome will be reimbursed up to € 100,- (or up € 125,- in case you travel by train) upon a successful completion of this course. Meals and personal expenses are not included.
Application and admission
The selection of participants is based on grades, the added value of the course in the student’s curriculum, a letter of motivation, and the composition of the group. Students can apply via the link below; include in your application:
• a letter of motivation (max. 1 A4)
• a cv
• a recent list of courses followed and grades provided by your university
Deadline applications
12 December 2025
You will be notified about the outcome within two weeks. Please note that the decision of the selection committee is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
More info
E-mail: secretary@knir.it
Phone: (+39)063269621
This course is organized in collaboration with
© photocredits (header and tile): Dr. Nathalie de Haan
