Contact
Biography
2021-2024: Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, Department of Classics and Archaeology, University of Nottingham
2020-2022: Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Classics and Archaeology, University of Nottingham.
2016-2020: PhD in Archaeology at the University of Nottingham, fully funded by the Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship for Research Excellence (European Union). Thesis: Atestine identities in the Iron Age Veneto, north-east Italy (9th-1st cent. BC); supervisor: Prof. Mark Pearce, advisor: Dr Chrysanthi Gallou.
2019: University of Nottingham Tri-Campus Andrew Hendry PG Prize.
2015-2019: peer-reviewer and editorial board member, IJSRA (International Journal of Student Research in Archaeology).
2011-2016: collaborator of the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le Province di Frosinone, Latina e Rieti (Italian Heritage Office) in central Italy.
2011-2015: Laurea Magistrale (MA) in Archaeology at La Sapienza University of Rome: 110/110 cum laude (full marks). Dissertation: Il central place di Gazzo Veronese (VR) tra Bronzo finale ed età del Ferro: studio tipo-cronologico delle evidenze provenienti dalle indagini del 1981; supervisor: Prof. Alessandro Vanzetti, advisor: Dr Luciano Salzani.
2007-2011: Laurea Triennale (BA) in Archaeological Sciences at La Sapienza University of Rome: 110/110 cum laude (full maks). Dissertation: I campi fossili di Gricignano d'Aversa U.S. Navy: forme, estensioni ed orientamenti; supervisor: Prof. Alessandro Vanzetti.
Expertise Summary
I specialise in Later European Prehistory and my areas of expertise are:
- Identity
- GIS and territorial analysis
- Human, volcanic and climate impact on prehistoric landscapes
- The Bronze and Iron Ages of the Veneto (NE Italy)
- The Copper and Bronze Ages of Campania (southern Italy)
- The Iron Age and Romanization of northern Italy, with a focus on the Cenomanic Gauls
Teaching Summary
I teach Archaeology specialising in Later European Prehistory.
Academic year 2024-25:
no teaching duties
Previous teaching responsibilities:
November 2023: contributing to the Module CLAR1023 - Great Discoveries in Archaeology (2nd and 3rd year UG) with a two-hour lecture and a one-hour workshop on the Etruscans, specifically on Etruscan Religion. The title of the lecture was "Etruscans: 'The Most Religious of People' (13.11.2023); the title of the seminar was 'Escape the Etruscan Underworld: a snakes and ladders game' (15.11.2023).
January-May 2023: Convenor for the Module CLAR3075 - The World of the Etruscans (2nd and 3rd year UG)
February - May 2022: Seminar leader for the Module CLAR3007 - Rome and the Mediterranean (2nd and 3rd year UG), module convenor: Prof. Will Bowden.
February - April 2019: eight practicals and one lecture for the module 'Understanding the Past: Introduction to Archaeology' at the University of Nottingham (CLAR1012); module convenor: Dr Jon Henderson.
January 2019: marking for the module 'The Living and the Dead' at the University of Nottingham (CLAR1018); module convenor: Dr Chrysanthi Gallou.
February - March 2018: eight practicals for the module 'Understanding the Past: Introduction to Archaeology' at the University of Nottingham (V61ARC/V61100); module convenor: Dr Hannah O'Regan.
October - November 2017: two lectures for the module 'Understanding the Past: Introduction to Archaeology' at the University of Nottingham (V61ARC/V61100); module convenor: Dr Hannah O'Regan.
December 2015: one lecture for the special subject module 'Preistoria del Cibo' at the University of Rome 3; module convenor: Prof. Alessandro Guidi.
Research Summary
My current research focuses on the Cenomani, a Gaulish group who invaded northern Italy some time after the 600 BC. According to the ancient written sources, the Cenomani came from Gaul, invaded… read more
Recent Publications
SACCOCCIO, F. and VECCHI, E., eds., 2022. Who do you think you are? Ethnicity in the Iron Age Mediterranean Accordia Research Institute, University of London.
SACCOCCIO, F., 2022. Epilogue: a critical appraisal of ethnic studies in the Iron Age Mediterranean. In: SACCOCCIO, F. and VECCHI, E., eds., Who do you think you are? Ethnicity in the Iron Age Mediterranean Accordia Research Institute, University of London. 167-178
Current Research
My current research focuses on the Cenomani, a Gaulish group who invaded northern Italy some time after the 600 BC. According to the ancient written sources, the Cenomani came from Gaul, invaded eastern Lombardy and the western Veneto regions (northern Italy) and became Roman citizens in 49 BC. Unfortunately, they are still poorly understood archaeologically. Using a multi-disciplinary approach that will combine archaeology, linguistics, law, landscape and isotope studies this Post-doctoral project will identify them and examine what they tell us about major issues in ancient history such as migration, colonisation, cultural integration, self-definition, warfare, citizenship and landscape formation.
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/humanities/departments/classics-and-archaeology/news-and-events/news/2021/saccoccio-leverhulme-award.aspx
I am also involved as fieldwork leader in the Ga.Ve. Project (Gazzo Veronese, Veneto - NE Italy) for La Sapienza University of Rome. The Ga.Ve. Project investigates human presence in the territory of Gazzo Veronese between the Prehistoric and Medieval periods. It is a joint research project between the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le Province di Verona, Rovigo e Vicenza, the Università degli Studi di Verona, and La Sapienza University of Rome. La Sapienza University of Rome (project leader Prof. Alessandro Vanzetti) focuses its research on the Final Bronze and Iron Ages settlement of Gazzo Veronese-Coazze, considered in the literature to be the westernmost major Atestine culture settlement.
Past Research
My PhD focused on prehistoric identity in the Bronze and Iron Ages of the Veneto region, NE Italy. Particular attention was paid to the Iron Age through the reconstruction of the 9th-1st century BC settlement pattern and the analysis of selected material culture classes in identity terms: tomb markers, bronze ex votos, red-and-black painted ware and Situla Art.
Previous research mainly focused on prehistoric human, volcanic and climate impact in the Pianura Campana (Campania - southern Italy), in particular the reconstruction and analysis of the Early Bronze Age topography and field system at the site of Gricignano d'Aversa U.S. Navy (Caserta province) which is sealed by the debris of the Pomici di Avellino eruption, dated 1950-1820 cal BC.