University of Évora (Portugal)
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece)
Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM) in Archaeological Materials Science (ARCHMAT)

Objectives of the ARCHMAT Programme:

To impart to students the specific knowledge and skills required in the research field of Archaeometry in a way as to enable them to conduct scientific work, to critically assess and integrate scientific findings and knowledge and to independently manage an archaeometrical project from an archaeological, scientific as well as conservation/restoration perspective.

It aims, in particular, to form highly specialized professionals able to understand and apply the correct analytical scientific methodologies for the study and conservation of archaeological materials of different nature and belonging to different periods and/or cultures in European and Mediterranean History.


Added value:

The ARCHMAT EMJM program has been designed to maximize advantages both to students and the academic and non-academic staff involved. Its added value relies on the trans-national, inter/multidisciplinary and multisectoral character of the course, by:

• allowing the students to meet international specialists on different topics and research fields, and acquire multisectoral, inter-multidisciplinary, competences and knowledge, including transferable skills in Project Management, Entrepreneurship know-how, IT and communication skills;
• offering a multi-sectoral and transnational (and transcontinental with the associated partners in Brazil, China, Colombia,Thailand and Israel) know-how gaining experience according to the approach to sustainability and valorisation of Cultural Heritage assets in each country;
• providing opportunity for European Neighbourhood partners to establish deeper links with European academic and Research Institutions through exchange of expertise and excellent students with top level EU academic institution in a highly innovative and expanding research area (Archaeology/Cultural Heritage/Conservation Science) where Europe inherently plays (and should keep playing!) a leading, competitive role in the world due to its unique wealth of archaeological, historical and Cultural Heritage.

Course Structure:

The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Archaeological Materials Science (ARCHMAT) is a 2-years (120 ECTS) fully joint Program focusing on the application of scientific techniques to the study and conservation of archaeological assets. It is delivered by a consortium of 3 Degree-awarding HEIs from Portugal (Universidade de Evora), Greece (Aristotle University Thessaloniki) and Italy (Sapienza Universitŕ di Roma) and a satellite network of EU (Portugal, Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium) and non-EU (Israel, China, Brazil, Colombia and Thailand) academic and non-academic associated partners of 8 HEIs, 4 Museums, 3 Research Laboratories, 3 SMEs, 1 National Governmental Institution, 1 Civil Society Organization, 1 ENIC-NARIC Agency.


Mobility:

The mobility component ARCHMAT involves one semester at each of the three ARCHMAT Consortium Institutions (Portugal, Greece and Italy) with the option of carrying master thesis work in one of the Associated Members and Research Centres/Museums in Scientific Conservation Laboratories of world-renowned Museums. The mobility also involves the participation of all ARCHMAT candidates to the ARCHMAT Summer School at the end of the Second Semester.


Programme curriculum:

In the first semester of ARCHMAT, the first 6 ECTS acts as introductory ones and will follow two paths according to the student’s original educational background, i.e. Introductory Science courses to Humanities students and Introductory Archaeology Courses to Science students. The remaining ECTS are earned by successful completing highly specialized courses with progressing complexity and laboratory workload involvement in Archaeometry mainly focusing on three different historical periods: a) Prehistory-Megalithic (UEVORA), b) Greek (AUTh) and c) Roman (UNIROMA1) classical periods. The first year is divided into two semesters (30 ECTS each): first one in UEVORA, second one in AUTh. At the end of the first year, a summer school (6 ECTS) is organized at AUTh where members from the Degree-awarding and the Associated partners of the Consortium participate and contribute to. In this way, by the end of the first year, the students will have had the opportunity to meet lecturers from all partners of the ARCHMAT Consortium and gain an overview of their respective areas of expertise: this will help them to formulate early plans on where to focus their interests, in view of the final Master thesis topic. In this respect, possible Master thesis topics are communicated to the students during the summer school or immediately afterwards.

The second year is split into two semesters (30 ECTS each): in the third semester students follow theoretical, laboratory and field curriculum units at UNIROMA1. The fourth semester is based in UEVORA, UNIROMA1 or AUTh and is devoted to master thesis work. The Thesis project may be conducted in collaboration between one of the three full members and ARCHMAT associated members and could involve a placement period at one of the associated partners institutions.

Each student is assigned a tutor for the master thesis project from one of three core Universities (UEVORA, AUTh or UNIROMA1) which can have the assistance of one or more co-Tutor(s) from one of the non-degree awarding associated members according to the needs of the collaborative project chosen.


Admission requirements

The Program is open to excellent candidates holding a Bachelor degree (I cycle equivalent-180 ECTS credits) from either Science (Physics, Earth Sciences, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Engineering) and Humanities (Archaeology, Conservation Science, Cultural Heritage Studies, Architecture, Art History) academic backgrounds. Students who have passed the first selection will be called for an online interview, in which the following points will be assessed on the basis of the requirements published in the call for admission to the MSc ARCHMAT: basic knowledge of chemistry, physics, mathematics , informatics, biology, earth sciences and archeology, quality of academic training, work experience, excellence in the mark achieved in the degree certificate, personal motivations.


About University of Évora (Portugal), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)

The ARCHMAT consortium Universities are leading institutions in the Archaeometry and Cultural Heritage conservation fields, as described below.

UEVORA , the coordinating institution is located in the Alentejo region of Southern Portugal, the region in Europe that can boast the richest asset of granitic megalithic monuments being internationally renowned as the Iberian Mesopotamia. It hosts the Institute for Advanced Teaching and Research (IIFA), the Department in charge of the ARCHMAT EMJM, whose mission is to combine and link teaching with research at the University of Évora.

UEVORA also host the HERCULES Laboratory for The Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage whose members and directors (including the ARCHMAT Coordinator – Nick Schiavon) are part of the ARCHMAT academic staff.

AUTh is the largest University in Greece covering all disciplines. It is widely recognized as a vibrant center of learning which draws its inspiration from a long tradition of academic achievement. It is located in a region with a wealth of archaeological important sites investigated by AUTh researchers, such as Vergina (with the tomb of Philip II) and Pella. AUTh comprises 9 Faculties organized into 42 Departments, and 95,000 students. The teaching and research staff numbers 2330 people further supported by 820 researchers or technicians. The Department of Chemistry has nearly 500 students and 103 staff members and is perfectly appropriate for the ARCHMAT EMJMD project resulting in interdisciplinary trans-national joint degrees.

UNIROMA1 Sapienza University of Rome is one of the oldest universities in the world and the largest university in Europe: there are around 110,000 students enrolled, of which 8000 coming from abroad, and more than 4700 professors and researchers. UNIROMA1 offers a vast array of courses including 290 degree courses at Bachelor and Master level, 78 PhD courses, one to two year professional courses and Specialization Schools, which are run by 63 Departments and 11 Faculties. Currently, it ranks as first amongst Italian universities (ARWU - Academic Ranking of World Universities, U.S. News). Sapienza fosters international exchange, know-how sharing and institutional collaboration through special programs for visiting scholars and through an active participation to European and international projects.

The academic and non-academic associated members are all leading experts on some specific analytical and scientific aspects of Archaeometry as well as on aspect of Project Management and entrepreneurship in the Archaeological/Cultural heritage materials sector. They deliver specialized Theoretical and Field classes and offer internships during thesis projects according to their expertise within the course.