Angela Trentacoste

Research Interests

I am interested in all aspects of Mediterranean Iron Age and Classical archaeology, in particular cultural interaction, state and landscape development, and the ritual and economic role of animals. Additionally, I am concerned with improving the dialogue among researchers of different methodologies and developing innovative ways of integrating texts, iconography, material culture and animal remains in the Classical world.

I am also an active member in and the current newsletter editor for ICAZ (International Council for Archaeozoology).

PhD Title:

The Etruscans and their animals: the zooarchaeology of Forcello di Bagnolo San Vito (Mantova)

PhD Abstract:

This research seeks to provide a new, multidimensional perspective on life in an Etruscan city and the economic development of Italian urbanism. Because animals provide valuable information on subsistence, economy, status and identity, zooarchaeology is an ideal lens for exploring these themes. Investigation into the animal economy of the Etruscan site of Forcello di Bagnolo San Vito (Mantova, Italy), where a huge animal bone assemblage has been uncovered by decades of excavation, will provide new data on Etruscan subsistence and urban development. The volume of material from the site significantly exceeds that of nearly all other published Etruscan assemblages and will allow for higher-resolution assessment of Etruscan subsistence economy. This new mass of information will be integrated with past research both at Forcello and elsewhere to create a detailed picture of an Etruscan urban economy and a better map of regional differences in animal usage and agricultural strategy.
This project is made possible by the support of Forcello excavations under the direction of Professor R. de Marinis of the Università degli Studi di Miano. Funding is provided by the University of Sheffield and the Economic History Society.

Qualifications:

MSc (distinction), Environmental Archaeology and Palaeoeconomy, University of Sheffield
Sept 2008–Sept 2009 Sheffield, UK
Dissertation research explored zooarchaeological methods of recording in order to evaluate the consequences of different approaches on interpretation of a Romano-British assemblage

BA, Archaeology, Studio Art (double major); Art History (minor), University of Virginia
Aug 2002–May 2006 Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Crafted an interdisciplinary archaeology major with courses from Anthropology, Classics and Art History supplemented by work in Italian and Latin

Awards and Scholarships:

Economic History Society Research Fund for Graduate Students Grant
University of Sheffield Faculty Scholarship 2010–2012
University of Sheffield Alumni Award 2010–2013
University of USA Scholarship 2008

Research Experience

Manor Lodge Project, Sheffield, University of Sheffield
Mar 2010 & Feb 2011, Sheffield, UK
Analysis of animal bones mostly from the later occupation phases (18th & 19th century) from
what was once a medieval/16th century manor and hunting lodge

Research Assistant, Faunal Analysis of Titrish Hoyuk, University of Virginia
Jan–May 2006, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Identified and recorded of faunal remains from a Bronze Age site in southeastern Turkey

Conferences and Publications

(In prep) Animal remains from the Etruscan sanctuary of Poggio Colla: inversion, fragmentation and curation. Proceedings of the Gods in Ruins: The archaeology of religious activity in Proto-historic, Archaic, and Republican central Italy. Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. March 20–22, 2011.

Trentacoste, A. (forthcoming 2011) Appendix: The animal remains from two votive contexts at Poggio Colla. In G. Warden, “Visibility and sacrifice at the Etruscan sanctuary of Poggio Colla.” In Studies in Honor of Francesco Nicosia, Notiziario della Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Toscana. Firenze, Soprintendenza Archeologica Toscana.

Trentacoste, A. (forthcoming 2011) A broken record? The development, application and improvement of recording protocols. Proceedings of the ICAZ 2011 session: Influencing, supporting and maintaining our profession: past, present and future. Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris.

Albarella, U. and Trentacoste, A. (eds.) (2011) Ethnozooarchaeology. The Past and Present of Human Animal Relationships. Oxford, Oxbow Books.

Albarella, U., Manconi, F. and Trentacoste, A. (2011) A week on the plateau: Pig husbandry, mobility and resource exploitation in central Sardinia. In U. Albarella and A. Trentacoste, Ethnozooarchaeology. The Past and Present of Human-Animal Relationships. Oxford, Oxbow Books.

Reports

2011 Trentacoste, A. Manor Lodge, Sheffield, 2010 Excavations: The Animal Bone. University of Sheffield.

2010 Albarella, U. and Trentacoste, A. Animal bones from the Sheffield Manor Lodge (1107b) – an assessment. University of Sheffield.

Teaching Experience:

2011/2012 Demonstrator. Zooarchaeology Short Course. Understanding zooarchaeology: a short course for
archaeology and heritage professionals. University of Sheffield. Jan 31–Feb 2 2011 & April 18 - 20 2012.

2010 Lecture and Practical. Introduction to Zooarchaeology. MVAP Poggio Colla Field School,
Vicchio, Italy. July.

2010 First year tutor, AAP110 Introduction to European Classical Civilizations
Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, Oct–Dec 2010, Sheffield, UK

2009 Demonstrator: Mobile Technology and Field Training Archaeology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield. April.

2004/2006 Occasional lecturer, SWAG 311 Feminist Publishing and Scholarship
Design Editor, Iris Magazine, Women’s Center, University of Virginia, Aug 2005–May 2006 Charlottesville, Virginia, USA