Archaeology of Portus: Exploring the Lost Harbour of Ancient Rome (FutureLearn)

Archaeology of Portus: Exploring the Lost Harbour of Ancient Rome (FutureLearn)

Learn how ancient artefacts, written evidence, excavation and digital technologies are transforming understanding of this harbour. The Roman harbour city of Portus lay at the heart of an empire that extended from Scotland to Iraq. Established by Claudius and enlarged by the emperor Trajan with spoils of the Dacian wars, the port was the conduit for everything the city of Rome required from its Mediterranean provinces: the food and, particularly grain, that fed the largest urban population of the ancient world, as well as luxuries of all kinds, building materials, people and wild animals for the arena.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

On this course you will chart a journey from the Imperial harbour to its connections across the Mediterranean, learning about what the archaeological discoveries uncovered by the Portus Project tell us about the history, landscape, buildings, and the people of this unique place. Although the site lies in ruins, it has some of the best-preserved Roman port buildings in the Mediterranean, and in this course you will learn to interpret these and the finds discovered within them, using primary research data and the virtual tools of the archaeologist.
Largely filmed on location at Portus, the course will provide you with an insight into the wide range of digital technologies employed to record, analyse and present the site. In addition to the lead educators, our enthusiastic team of student archaeologists will support your learning.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

At the Origins of the Mediterranean Civilization: Archaeology of the City from the Levant to the West - 3rd-1st millennium BC (Coursera) Coursera
Sapienza University of Rome

At the Origins of the Mediterranean Civilization: Archaeology of the City from the Levant to the West - 3rd-1st millennium BC (Coursera)

Which are the deepest roots of that mix of cultures that we use to call ‘Mediterranean Civilization’? Which are comminglings and exchanges which produced its most complete fruit, i.e. the city, a place for landscape-modelling communities? And which elements did contribute to build up that baulk of customs, ideas, and innovations which compelled to confrontation and hybridizations different peoples for millennia? What did it made, from pottery to metallurgy, from gastronomy to architecture, from art to religion, of a sea a cradle of civilization? Archaeology may help in disentangling such questions, seeking unexpected answers , by tinkering what ancient Mediterranean peoples left buried in the ground.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Smart Cities: Social Change Through Technology (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Canterbury

Smart Cities: Social Change Through Technology (FutureLearn)

Learn from New Zealand’s inspirational smart city projects, and see how you can apply these principles to your own context. Gain insights into smart cities from the experts at the University of Canterbury. Smart cities harness the power of digital technology. Through innovative data collection, cities can use these insights to manage resources and operations more efficiently, and promote sustainable development.

Jan 31st 2022
5-12 Weeks
Internet of Things for Active Aging (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Taipei Medical University

Internet of Things for Active Aging (FutureLearn)

Learn about how the Internet of Things can help people aging well with this free online course. The Internet of Things (IoT) includes many new digital health technologies, from apps to wearable devices to home sensors - devices that are expected to revolutionize healthcare in the near future. But when will they become truly useful and usable for those with the most at stake: older adults with multiple medical problems? This is just one of the questions we will tackle on this course.

Apr 4th 2022
4 Weeks
Exploring Stone Age Archaeology: The Mysteries of Star Carr (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of York

Exploring Stone Age Archaeology: The Mysteries of Star Carr (FutureLearn)

Discover Star Carr, one of the world's most important archaeological sites, and learn what life was like over 10,000 years ago. Learn about the incredible discoveries at Star Carr. Star Carr is one of Britain’s most important archaeological sites. Because of extraordinary conditions of survival, we have uncovered the oldest known house in Britain, the earliest evidence of carpentry in Europe and the oldest complete bow in the world. These and other discoveries help us interpret what life might have been like over 10,000 years ago.

Self Paced
4 Weeks
Exploring Copyright: History, Culture, Industry (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers - CISAC

Exploring Copyright: History, Culture, Industry (FutureLearn)

Understand the importance of copyright and learn its history, from the Renaissance to the Internet, with this free online course. Have you ever thought about how a composer or a writer makes a living? Or how they make money to live their daily lives, just like other people? This course will explore the process of creators becoming professionals: how a marketplace and an industry have grown thanks to inventions like the 15th century printing press.

No sessions available
4 Weeks
Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Durham University

Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology (FutureLearn)

Enter the fascinating world of forensics, and learn how the deceased are located, recovered and analysed using DNA and pathology. Learn the science behind the exhumation and identification of skeletal remains. The location, exhumation and identification of the dead requires highly specialised expertise. On this course, you’ll learn the latest scientific techniques for body location, recovery and analysis.

Self Paced
5-12 Weeks
Introduction to Digital Transformation (Coursera) Coursera
Siemens

Introduction to Digital Transformation (Coursera)

This course is primarily for professionals, college students, and advanced high school students who are interested in driving the digital transformation by integrating automation, software, and cutting-edge technologies. This course represents a foundational introduction to Digital Transformation, appropriate for learners with a basic familiarity with common business terms and concepts and an interest in digital technology.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Archaeology: from Dig to Lab and Beyond (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Reading

Archaeology: from Dig to Lab and Beyond (FutureLearn)

Get an introduction to studying archaeology, exploring exciting discoveries in the Vale of Pewsey, near to Stonehenge and Avebury. Chart the progress of an archaeological excavation from dig to lab and beyond. We’ll show you around our field school at the Vale of Pewsey, a relatively untouched site compared to its famous neighbour, Stonehenge.

Self Paced
2 Weeks
Digital Skills: Digital Skills for Work and Life (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Accenture

Digital Skills: Digital Skills for Work and Life (FutureLearn)

Learn about how digital is changing the world of work, and how you can successfully grow your career in the digital age. Digital technology now touches almost every aspect of our lives, including work. On this course, you will explore how you can build a successful career in the digital age. You’ll get a closer look at the meaning of digital, and how it has changed the way we work.

Self Paced
2 Weeks