Set between three continents, the Mediterranean Sea was a crucible of different ancient cultures, including the Greek, the Roman and the Egyptian civilization, which have had a strong impact on the modern world. The new certificate in Mediterranean Archaeology will enable students to study the ancient Mediterranean and develop a critical understanding of the archaeology of the many cultures that flourished on its coasts from the Stone Age to the fall of the Roman Empire. The certificate will draw from the exceptional breadth and depth of research and teaching expertise in this field available in the Department of Classics, and also in the Department of Anthropology, and make use of the unique resources of the Burnam Classical Library and the antiquities collection of the Department of Classics. It will also offer opportunities for collaboration with the Hebrew Union College, the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Cincinnati Museum Center.
Students from the UC College of Arts and Sciences and other colleges in the University attracted to this certificate will learn about the arts and monuments of the ancient Mediterranean, the emergence and collapse of early states, and economy and exchange in the ancient world. They will also develop an understanding of the methods and techniques used by archaeologists in studying these finds and reconstructing ancient civilizations. Additionally, they will be exposed to diachronic and comparative perspectives on ancient culture and learn to appreciate the relevance of the exploration of antiquity to the shaping of the modern world.