Grants and Support of Archaeological Projects & Research
Persuant to the objectives of the Association grants, have been made to archaeological projects, excavations and research projects. Support has included grants, equipment, professional testing fees, food and accommodation for volunteers at excavations, as well as grants to support students with tuition fees or going to conferences to present their work. Since the year 2000 a total of over 120.000 Euros has been granted for these kind of projects.
If you would like to apply for a grant, please visit Grant applications
If you would like to apply for a grant, please visit Grant applications
An overview of Grants given since 2009
2025
- Daniela Martins was givien a grant for the micromorphological analysis of Osobono Sediments.
- Humberto Verissimo, who is also making our beautiful lecture-posters, was given a grant for support during his thesis writing.
- Support was given to the Hugo Obermeier conference held in April at the University of the Algarve in Faro.
- David Nora was given a grant for presenting his work at a Conference in the USA.
- Daniela Martins and Daniela Cabral were given grants to register and attend the online sessions at a conference in Belgrade where they will present heir work.
- Noemi Gril and Maria Sousa were given grants to buy the materials needed for the laboratory analysis of their samples.
- Nolan Ferar was given a grant to search for pebbles from caves used in the Middle Paleolitic period.
- Gil Vilarinho was given a grant to do stable isotope analysis on marble samples from several Roman sites (Estoi en others).
- Humberto Verissimo, who is also making our beautiful lecture-posters, was given a grant for support during his thesis writing.
- Support was given to the Hugo Obermeier conference held in April at the University of the Algarve in Faro.
- David Nora was given a grant for presenting his work at a Conference in the USA.
- Daniela Martins and Daniela Cabral were given grants to register and attend the online sessions at a conference in Belgrade where they will present heir work.
- Noemi Gril and Maria Sousa were given grants to buy the materials needed for the laboratory analysis of their samples.
- Nolan Ferar was given a grant to search for pebbles from caves used in the Middle Paleolitic period.
- Gil Vilarinho was given a grant to do stable isotope analysis on marble samples from several Roman sites (Estoi en others).
2024
-Grants were given to the "Conference on Environmental Archaeology" organized by the Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and the Evolution of Human Behaviour (ICArEHB) at the University of Algarve to pay for the attendance fees of 6 students and 2 prizes to be awarded.
-Five students were given grants to attend and present their work at conferences in Barcelona, Madrid, Cadiz and Sofia.
-Jose Vinagre was given a grant to attend a Training Program in Archaeology
-Beatriz Pinto was given a grant for accommodation in Faro during her study of Algarve samples
-A grant was given on behalf of the Alferce excavation to have Fabio Jaulino as a coordination-assistant.
-Adriana Leite was given a grant for accommodation in Copenhagen while analyzing samples from Algarve excavations.
-Joana Baço and Gonçalo Lopes were given a grant to support their Marine archaeological project in the bay of Lagos.
-Five students were given grants to attend and present their work at conferences in Barcelona, Madrid, Cadiz and Sofia.
-Jose Vinagre was given a grant to attend a Training Program in Archaeology
-Beatriz Pinto was given a grant for accommodation in Faro during her study of Algarve samples
-A grant was given on behalf of the Alferce excavation to have Fabio Jaulino as a coordination-assistant.
-Adriana Leite was given a grant for accommodation in Copenhagen while analyzing samples from Algarve excavations.
-Joana Baço and Gonçalo Lopes were given a grant to support their Marine archaeological project in the bay of Lagos.
2023
-A grant was given towards the Alferce excavation to have Beatriz Pinto work as an excavation assistant.
-Two students were given grants to attend and present their work at a Conference in Lisbon.
-One student was given support for accommodation in Faro (while her family had moved to the North of Portugal) to complete the analysis of her research samples stored in Faro.
-Two students were given grants to attend and present their work at a Conference in Lisbon.
-One student was given support for accommodation in Faro (while her family had moved to the North of Portugal) to complete the analysis of her research samples stored in Faro.
2022
-"Five students were given grants for organizing, attending and presenting their work at the "I Encontro Nacional de Estudantes de Arqueologia" taking place in Évora (Universidade de Évora).
- Pedro Horta, whom we have supported in the past and who in return has given many lectures to the AAA about his work and research on Neanderthals, was given support for attending and presenting his PhD work at the "Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology" held in Chicago.
-A grant was given to pay for the lunch of the students participating in a workshop at the Ualg.
-Fabio Capela was given a grant for the meals of the students participating at the Alferce Excavation.
-Fabio Capela was given a grant to pay for the Radiocarbon dating of samples from the Alferce excavation.
-One student was given support to pay for her tuition at the Ualg.
-Two students were given grants to attend and present their work at the "XII Encontro de Arqueologia do Sudoeste Peninsular at Aljaraque (Huelva, España).
- Pedro Horta, whom we have supported in the past and who in return has given many lectures to the AAA about his work and research on Neanderthals, was given support for attending and presenting his PhD work at the "Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology" held in Chicago.
-A grant was given to pay for the lunch of the students participating in a workshop at the Ualg.
-Fabio Capela was given a grant for the meals of the students participating at the Alferce Excavation.
-Fabio Capela was given a grant to pay for the Radiocarbon dating of samples from the Alferce excavation.
-One student was given support to pay for her tuition at the Ualg.
-Two students were given grants to attend and present their work at the "XII Encontro de Arqueologia do Sudoeste Peninsular at Aljaraque (Huelva, España).
2021
- Fabio Capela was given a grant for the food of the student volunteers at the excavation sites of Castelo do Alferce and Cerro do Oiro e Buço Preto.
- Two students were given grants for poster printing and attendance fees at the "XI Encontros de Arqueologia do Sudoeste Peninsular" in Loule.
- Two students were given grants for poster printing and attendance fees at the "XI Encontros de Arqueologia do Sudoeste Peninsular" in Loule.
2020
Due to the Covid pandemic no excavations were done nor conferences organized.
However, one of the students we supported with a student grant to present her findings at scientific conferences was now needing to study pottery stored at Faro University. Due to the pandemic lodging was not possible at University facilities. The AAA supported her with lodging in Faro.
However, one of the students we supported with a student grant to present her findings at scientific conferences was now needing to study pottery stored at Faro University. Due to the pandemic lodging was not possible at University facilities. The AAA supported her with lodging in Faro.
2019
Five Student grants were given grants for attending and presenting their work at Scientific Conferences.
Support was given for the C14 analysis of samples obtained from the excavation of the Boca do Rio industiral complex. The excavations were carried out under the direction of Felix Teichner (univ. of Marburg), and Joao Barnardes (Univ. of Algarve) with Florian Hermann as excavation leader (univ. of Marburg). The C14 dating will be used to clarify the absolute chronology of the industrial complex of Boca do Rio where other traditional dating methods are limited.
The AAA also organized an excursion to the site during the excavation works (see trip report)
For more information see talk presented to the AAA by Florian Hermann in April 2019.
Support was given for the C14 analysis of samples obtained from the excavation of the Boca do Rio industiral complex. The excavations were carried out under the direction of Felix Teichner (univ. of Marburg), and Joao Barnardes (Univ. of Algarve) with Florian Hermann as excavation leader (univ. of Marburg). The C14 dating will be used to clarify the absolute chronology of the industrial complex of Boca do Rio where other traditional dating methods are limited.
The AAA also organized an excursion to the site during the excavation works (see trip report)
For more information see talk presented to the AAA by Florian Hermann in April 2019.
2018
One student grant was given for presenting the work at a scientific conference.
A grant was given to Elena Moran to pay for the layout of her book on Alcalar.
For more information see her lecture about Alcalar given to the AAA.
A grant was given to Elena Moran to pay for the layout of her book on Alcalar.
For more information see her lecture about Alcalar given to the AAA.
2017
Student Grants
Four students were given grants to present their data at Scientific Conferences.
Another student was given a grant to travel to the excavation project in Mocambique (Nuno Bicho UALg)
Four students were given grants to present their data at Scientific Conferences.
Another student was given a grant to travel to the excavation project in Mocambique (Nuno Bicho UALg)
Boca do Rio 2017 Summer campaign
The campaign of the archaeological team from the University of Algarve in the Roman site of Boca do Rio, had as main objective to study the connection between the roman structures of the residential area and the structures of later occupations installed in that place. The campaign held between September 4 and September 16 was formed by students at the University of Algarve and University of Évora, led by João Pedro Bernardes. At the same time a team from the German University of Marburg dug in the industrial area of the site.
Boca do Rio had an intense Roman occupation between the 1st and 5th century AD. It was a site dedicated to the exploration and processing of fish resources, consisting of a residential area with a rich House and baths in coastal front and behind an industrial area with tanks and warehouses. A new human occupation, devoted to fishing too, settled in the 16th century the western part of residential area. The tsunami of 1755 destroyed, certainly, the fragile structures of the 16th century. But, at the same time, uncover from dunes the ancient Roman structures wich are described by the priest of Budens as imposing.
The current intervention allowed to know that the solid Roman structures unearthed by the Tsunami were reused few years later to build the warehouses still in place. From this intervention we can understand that the foundations of buildings from the 18th century are the same of a huge and sturdy Roman construction that was built there, probably at the beginning of the 3rd century. Previously to the construction of this building, existed on site combustion structures dating from the middle of the 1st century AD, in accordance with a big layer of ash and charred bricks along the foundations of Roman building. This constructive program may have matched to the reformulation of a spa, since it was buit inside the building a tank with stairs that seems to be a frigidarium. Outside of the building water pipes were detected in masonry and other built in brick that came from direction of the frigidarium toward the sea. The dig allowed collect two pipes (tubuli) in perfect state of conservation. Also allowed to understand that the men of the 18th century reused the foundations and the floor of the great Roman building for, 1 500 years later, develop their activities there also linked to fishing.
The campaign of the archaeological team from the University of Algarve in the Roman site of Boca do Rio, had as main objective to study the connection between the roman structures of the residential area and the structures of later occupations installed in that place. The campaign held between September 4 and September 16 was formed by students at the University of Algarve and University of Évora, led by João Pedro Bernardes. At the same time a team from the German University of Marburg dug in the industrial area of the site.
Boca do Rio had an intense Roman occupation between the 1st and 5th century AD. It was a site dedicated to the exploration and processing of fish resources, consisting of a residential area with a rich House and baths in coastal front and behind an industrial area with tanks and warehouses. A new human occupation, devoted to fishing too, settled in the 16th century the western part of residential area. The tsunami of 1755 destroyed, certainly, the fragile structures of the 16th century. But, at the same time, uncover from dunes the ancient Roman structures wich are described by the priest of Budens as imposing.
The current intervention allowed to know that the solid Roman structures unearthed by the Tsunami were reused few years later to build the warehouses still in place. From this intervention we can understand that the foundations of buildings from the 18th century are the same of a huge and sturdy Roman construction that was built there, probably at the beginning of the 3rd century. Previously to the construction of this building, existed on site combustion structures dating from the middle of the 1st century AD, in accordance with a big layer of ash and charred bricks along the foundations of Roman building. This constructive program may have matched to the reformulation of a spa, since it was buit inside the building a tank with stairs that seems to be a frigidarium. Outside of the building water pipes were detected in masonry and other built in brick that came from direction of the frigidarium toward the sea. The dig allowed collect two pipes (tubuli) in perfect state of conservation. Also allowed to understand that the men of the 18th century reused the foundations and the floor of the great Roman building for, 1 500 years later, develop their activities there also linked to fishing.
Digging for the Roman foundation
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Roman tubes underneath the 18th century warehouse
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Inside the tube
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The Roman foundation of the 18th century warehouse
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The PaleoCoast Project.
The team led by João Marreiros received a grant for the following project.
The geological and geomorphological formations in southwestern (SW) region of Algarve (Barlavento),characterized by karstic features, such as natural caves and shelters, have long been seen as an attractive ecological and geological landscape to early human occupation during the Pleistocene. In fact, during the last decades archaeological investigation in this region has shown that human populations occupied this territory during the Paleolithic and Mesolithic.
Although diverse archaeological finds have been reported, to date not a single project has been systematically focused on the inventory of the coastal, including marine and terrestrial, karst formations and its speleological and archaeological potential. Although preliminary work has been carried out, published speleological data from the Algarve context is still scarce and dispersed and this specific line of research has been poorly developed. This situation leads to increased vulnerability of this natural heritage facing human pressure and no clear understanding of the archaeological potential of the region.
Thus, this project is characterized by a multidisciplinary approach, combining difference disciplines, such as geology, archaeology, paleontology and biology, aiming to produce an inventory and characterization of existing archaeological limestone caves in SW Algarve, including maritime and terrestrial caves, focusing primarily on Late Pleistocene horizons. The presented project, combining terrestrial (i.e. shore) and underwater archaeological work, such as survey, test pits and excavation, will be focused in one of the main interesting areas in Algarve from a geological and archaeological point of view.
The results were presented at an AAA lecture. Click here for a report of the lecture
The team led by João Marreiros received a grant for the following project.
The geological and geomorphological formations in southwestern (SW) region of Algarve (Barlavento),characterized by karstic features, such as natural caves and shelters, have long been seen as an attractive ecological and geological landscape to early human occupation during the Pleistocene. In fact, during the last decades archaeological investigation in this region has shown that human populations occupied this territory during the Paleolithic and Mesolithic.
Although diverse archaeological finds have been reported, to date not a single project has been systematically focused on the inventory of the coastal, including marine and terrestrial, karst formations and its speleological and archaeological potential. Although preliminary work has been carried out, published speleological data from the Algarve context is still scarce and dispersed and this specific line of research has been poorly developed. This situation leads to increased vulnerability of this natural heritage facing human pressure and no clear understanding of the archaeological potential of the region.
Thus, this project is characterized by a multidisciplinary approach, combining difference disciplines, such as geology, archaeology, paleontology and biology, aiming to produce an inventory and characterization of existing archaeological limestone caves in SW Algarve, including maritime and terrestrial caves, focusing primarily on Late Pleistocene horizons. The presented project, combining terrestrial (i.e. shore) and underwater archaeological work, such as survey, test pits and excavation, will be focused in one of the main interesting areas in Algarve from a geological and archaeological point of view.
The results were presented at an AAA lecture. Click here for a report of the lecture
5th Iberian Peninsular Archaeomalacology Scientific Conference (RCAPI).
The RCAPI group was inaugurated in 2010 and through its conferences gives researchers in prehistory, history, zooarchaeology, archaeology, biology etc the opportunity to meet together to exchange information and data. From 26 - 29 April 2017 their conference will be held for the first time here in Portugal at the University of Faro. Next years conference will be focusing on Iberian zooarchaeological (EZI) research. The AAA has committed to a grant for the printing of the Programme and Abstract Book (in English). Other funding for this event is being sought from a variety of institutions and organisations.
The RCAPI group was inaugurated in 2010 and through its conferences gives researchers in prehistory, history, zooarchaeology, archaeology, biology etc the opportunity to meet together to exchange information and data. From 26 - 29 April 2017 their conference will be held for the first time here in Portugal at the University of Faro. Next years conference will be focusing on Iberian zooarchaeological (EZI) research. The AAA has committed to a grant for the printing of the Programme and Abstract Book (in English). Other funding for this event is being sought from a variety of institutions and organisations.
2016
UALG students
As last year students have been awarded grants to assist them travel to conferences to present their work. This year 3 grants have been approved for Conferences in Oslo and Vilnius.
Rescue Excavations at Boca do Rio.
In July Prof. Joao Bernardes (UALG) has directed excavations on the cliffs next to the Roman site at Boca do Rio. Over the years the cliff has been eroded and also due to weathering and human walking traffic, a number of Roman graves have come under threat. The AAA has given financial support to this project which has run for two weeks. Assistance was also being provided by Vila do Bispo council and an anthropologist from Coimbra. For a report of the excavatioin click here.
Underwater Survey and Exploration in the Arade River Estuary.
Cristóvão Fonseca (Master Student in Archaeology) and José Bettencourt (PhD Student; teacher of Underwater Archaeology in FCSH-UNL) have continued the project started in 2012 with the name “Between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic: an approach to the underwater cultural heritage of the Arade estuary”
This project aims to develop an integrated study between the archaeological remains found during the 1970 river dredges, currently in the Portimão Museum facilities and the archaeological evidences that are still on the river. This project would allow to contextualize the vast assemblage of artefacts collected so far and also fully understand each archaeological site. Moreover the project intends to integrate the archaeological remains in the maritime cultural landscape of the Arade river, considering natural and cultural changes of the river, human settlement and the exploration of natural resources.
The current project involved a field season in the Arade River estuary (Portimão/Lagoa), surveying and excavating in underwater archaeological sites related with anchorage and shipwrecks of roman to early-modern chronology (Arade B, Ponta do Altar A, Ponta do Altar B and GEO 5) and to continue the study of the archaeological remains in the Portimão Museum that came from these sites.
During the cartography of the areas mentioned, an amphora was identified suggesting sailing on the Arade river during the Roman period. Artefacts suggesting more modern shipping were 3 iron canons, the remains of a wooden ship and an anchor (the latter 2 probably 19th centrury).
As last year students have been awarded grants to assist them travel to conferences to present their work. This year 3 grants have been approved for Conferences in Oslo and Vilnius.
Rescue Excavations at Boca do Rio.
In July Prof. Joao Bernardes (UALG) has directed excavations on the cliffs next to the Roman site at Boca do Rio. Over the years the cliff has been eroded and also due to weathering and human walking traffic, a number of Roman graves have come under threat. The AAA has given financial support to this project which has run for two weeks. Assistance was also being provided by Vila do Bispo council and an anthropologist from Coimbra. For a report of the excavatioin click here.
Underwater Survey and Exploration in the Arade River Estuary.
Cristóvão Fonseca (Master Student in Archaeology) and José Bettencourt (PhD Student; teacher of Underwater Archaeology in FCSH-UNL) have continued the project started in 2012 with the name “Between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic: an approach to the underwater cultural heritage of the Arade estuary”
This project aims to develop an integrated study between the archaeological remains found during the 1970 river dredges, currently in the Portimão Museum facilities and the archaeological evidences that are still on the river. This project would allow to contextualize the vast assemblage of artefacts collected so far and also fully understand each archaeological site. Moreover the project intends to integrate the archaeological remains in the maritime cultural landscape of the Arade river, considering natural and cultural changes of the river, human settlement and the exploration of natural resources.
The current project involved a field season in the Arade River estuary (Portimão/Lagoa), surveying and excavating in underwater archaeological sites related with anchorage and shipwrecks of roman to early-modern chronology (Arade B, Ponta do Altar A, Ponta do Altar B and GEO 5) and to continue the study of the archaeological remains in the Portimão Museum that came from these sites.
During the cartography of the areas mentioned, an amphora was identified suggesting sailing on the Arade river during the Roman period. Artefacts suggesting more modern shipping were 3 iron canons, the remains of a wooden ship and an anchor (the latter 2 probably 19th centrury).
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2015
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The AAA has been working together with NAP, a student driven organization in the faculty of Archaeological of Faro University with the aim to support Students of Archaeology who want to present a poster or a talk at a scientific meeting. We have supported 7 students to present their work in Belgrado, Barcelona, Freiburg, and Lisbon.
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Furthermore a grant has been given to Jorge Freire to present his maritime archaeological project in the US.
The AAA has also given a grant to Felix Teichner for his geophysical surveys of several sites in the Algarve.
Click here to see the report
Click here to see the report
2014
The AAA has given a grant to Dennis Graen (University of Jena) to assist in his work at the Roman villa site at Cortes near Silves. The AAA made a visits there in 2013 and 2014. Dennis Graen has also presented his work to the AAA in October. See the report of the AAA excursion to the site.
Ismael Medeiros who had been the recipient of a student grant by the AAA in the past is now supported in his involvement with the cartography of archaeological sites and findings in the concelho of Vila do Bispo.
Ismael Medeiros who had been the recipient of a student grant by the AAA in the past is now supported in his involvement with the cartography of archaeological sites and findings in the concelho of Vila do Bispo.
2013
Tiago Fraga has been given a grant to continue the Project Patacho Pedro Dias in Baleira Bay (Martinhal). The first goal is to pinpoint more shipwrecks and artefacts by remote sensing. After which they will try to excavate and register all of the targets and with this year’s grant he will be able to start his diving in July. Tiago reports that last year’s campaign (helped by 2012 AAA funding) was a success resulting in 35 different targets to study of which they were able to verify 5. One of them is a shipwreck composed of several machinery pieces including possible flywheels and multiple iron shafts. Charred wood was also discovered at the site. A few copper alloy fasteners and an iron ‘knee’ were also found, indicative of late 19thC ship building. An archaeological site plan for this wreck site is in progress.
Tiago reports that this has now grown into a substantial project and has got the attention of the research community, both domestic and abroad, which is excellent news. They now know of the location of three of the known eight wrecks and believe they have not even ‘scratched the surface’. All have a story to tell, deeds of smuggling, adventuring, piracy, trade await, but all are also of a bigger story, in the words of Donny Hamilton ships where ‘vectors of cultural interactions and maritime peoples the de-facto ambassadors of cultural and technical diffusion’, all giving their small contribution to the rich history of humankind.
Tiago reports that this has now grown into a substantial project and has got the attention of the research community, both domestic and abroad, which is excellent news. They now know of the location of three of the known eight wrecks and believe they have not even ‘scratched the surface’. All have a story to tell, deeds of smuggling, adventuring, piracy, trade await, but all are also of a bigger story, in the words of Donny Hamilton ships where ‘vectors of cultural interactions and maritime peoples the de-facto ambassadors of cultural and technical diffusion’, all giving their small contribution to the rich history of humankind.
Joana Baço, whose research the AAA is helping to fund, has begun her diving and survey programme in the Bay of Lagos. The main Projecto de Carta Arqueológica Subaquática do Concelho de Lagos (PCASCL) aims to locate, identify and protect existing underwater heritage with in the district’s coastal area. The project is also being supported by private donations and is the result of the good will of a group of Lagos residents who took it upon themselves to continue the investigations in the bay after the abrupt end of a previous project. The Bay of Lagos, one of the largest in Portugal, was the centre of a long period of maritime trade, the wrecked remains of which still lie on the seabed – lead and iron anchors, stone ballast, hull timbers and iron fittings, ropes and pulleys. The project’s first stage is Joana’s in-depth study of the anchors known to date and also to work to identify their origin and on what kind of vessel they were used. – smuggling activities, trade or fishing practices for example. Joana will be presenting a paper on the initial finds in November at the 1st Congress of the Association of Portuguese Archaeologists in Lisbon and the paper is likely to be published in their proceedings.
Ana Osório – has been funded to set up and run a series of field workshops entitled ‘You make, I break, we glue - Ethnography and experimental insights into pottery interpretation’. The workshops took place in April and May and were held at the Institute of Archaeology, (Coimbra). They were attended by 2nd and 3rd year BA archaeology students and also 1st year MA students. The students worked on basic pottery techniques using clays from the soils around the Beja and Badajoz areas. This was then followed by session on the methods of firing of this handmade pottery and tests were carried out using a variety of ‘kilns’ and fires at different temperatures. The results were then compared. The final workshop looked at how suitable the fired pots were for subsequent use ie water/food and for cooking bearing in mind the pottery had not been glazed. The amount of water retention in the fired pots would of course depend on the temperatures at which the pots had been fired. A number of organic materials were used to try to reduce porosity (sealing the vessels) or mending the pots that showed small cracks after firing. The materials tested were whole meal flour, wheat bran, animal fat and vegetable oil, blood and beeswax. It seems that both wax and whole meal flour produced good results not only in reducing porosity and allowing water to boil but also in mending vessels.
Alexandra Gradim : During the summer she has continued the excavation at the late republican settlement on the Castelinho dos Mouros. An amphora was found with still some residues in them. The AAA is funding the analysis of the ceramic and residues which are performed at the University of Evora.
Elena Moran : As part of her PhD thesis on Alcalar she is making a comprehensive study of the territory's settlement in the 3rd millenium BC. Last year the analysis of the faunal remains was supported by the AAA. The current part of her study involves the study of seeds and cereal grains (paleoethnobotanical remains) recovered in the storage pits, ditch, and house related layers of the copper age settlement. The AAA is supporting the archeobotanic analysis of the samples.
2012
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This year we have sponsored 3 students from the Archaeology Faculty of the Faro University in order to cover their expenses for field work/ research to be done for their final thesis. Following a presentation about the AAA to the archaeology students in general the prizes were awarded to the 3 qualifying students by the AAA president at that time Florian Fuhrmann.
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The Associação de Defensa do Património Histórico e Arqueológico de Aljezur received a grant for the restoration of an Islamic ceramic vessel (Aljezur) |
Restored Islamic pot
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Tiago Fraga - Grant for the Archaeological Survey for the Patacho Pedro Diaz (Lagos Bay). See trip report to operational headquarters in Martinhal. on 2012-Nov
Pedro Barros and Samuel Melro - Grant for the study and report on human remains from the necropolis at Abóbada (Almodôvar) as part of the Estela Project. See AAA trip report dd 2011-May Elena Morán - Grant for the study of the faunal (mammal) remains recovered from Alcalar. |
2011
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In September last year the AAA visited the kiln site at Martinhal and the Roman site at Boca do Rio. Subsequently the AAA has been able to give a grant to João Bernardes who is continuing his excavations at Martinhal this summer. His objective is to study the Roman ‘working area’ and to record a pottery kiln which contains complete amphorae and is danger of erosion and collapse. See trip report dd 2010-Sep
In March this year Alexandra Gradim presented a lecture about the archaeology in the province of Alcoutim. In June Alexandra guided a group of AAA members to the various sites (see trip report of 2011-June). This summer she will continue excavating at the site of Castelinho dos Mouros with the help of foreign students and AAA volunteers. The AAA supported Alexandra with the funds to buy a camera suitable for her archaeological work. |
The Roman working area in the production of garum
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2010/2011
We gave a grant to 2 students from Luiz Oosterbeek.
The research center of the IPT is based in the Museum of Prehistoric Art of Mação, and is primarily concerned with transition periods (first human settlements in Portugal, transition from the Lower to the Middle Paleolithic, transition into the Holocene and the dawn of agriculture). Technology and Rock Art, and in general the relations between technology and symbolism in human adaptation mechanisms, are the focus of concern. Finally, heritage management is also a major research line in the group.
The research center of the IPT is based in the Museum of Prehistoric Art of Mação, and is primarily concerned with transition periods (first human settlements in Portugal, transition from the Lower to the Middle Paleolithic, transition into the Holocene and the dawn of agriculture). Technology and Rock Art, and in general the relations between technology and symbolism in human adaptation mechanisms, are the focus of concern. Finally, heritage management is also a major research line in the group.
Sara Garçes : Rock art project
The project on rock art is interested in understanding the cultural relation between the rock art evidences in the Tagus basin and the overall socio-economic trends in the transition into food production. The main activity is to draw the more than 2000 latex casts, made in the early 1970’s, on rocks with thousands of engravings, now under the water reservoir of the Fratel dam. Systematic analysis of the casts has never been done. Now, almost 40 years later, this tracing work is crucial to produce new knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of the art complex. Both from a scientific-historic and patrimonial perspective, this is a major project. The archaeological problem is the difficulty to relate rock art sites and other prehistoric sites, since direct relations are very rare. A new approach to the available casts, together with the new surveys, looks primarily at engravings stratigraphy and distribution patterns (these being articulated with the settlement patterns that were already identified).
Some remaining rock art was visited during the AAA trip to the Tejo valley
Thanks to the work Sara was able to show she subsequently won a research scholarship from the FCT (fund for science and technology) to continue her studies on the rock art of the Tagus River.
The project on rock art is interested in understanding the cultural relation between the rock art evidences in the Tagus basin and the overall socio-economic trends in the transition into food production. The main activity is to draw the more than 2000 latex casts, made in the early 1970’s, on rocks with thousands of engravings, now under the water reservoir of the Fratel dam. Systematic analysis of the casts has never been done. Now, almost 40 years later, this tracing work is crucial to produce new knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of the art complex. Both from a scientific-historic and patrimonial perspective, this is a major project. The archaeological problem is the difficulty to relate rock art sites and other prehistoric sites, since direct relations are very rare. A new approach to the available casts, together with the new surveys, looks primarily at engravings stratigraphy and distribution patterns (these being articulated with the settlement patterns that were already identified).
Some remaining rock art was visited during the AAA trip to the Tejo valley
Thanks to the work Sara was able to show she subsequently won a research scholarship from the FCT (fund for science and technology) to continue her studies on the rock art of the Tagus River.
Cristiana Ferreira : The project on environmental changes is another major and innovative project. For long, the indicators of environmental degradation (fires, replacement of forest by shrub vegetation) have been associated with the first farmers (that, using the slash and burn method, presented by Gordon Childe as the dominant agricultural method in these early times, would contribute to the loss of productivity of the soils). Research of the IPT a few years ago identified indicators of degradation before 6.000 BC, i.e., before the first farming activities. In the last year and a half any indicators of vegetation degradation in the Tagus basin and in Iberia, prior to 5000 BC. has been looked at in detail. More and more evidence is found that a natural, rather than anthropic, process may be in place. Main arguments in favour are: the absence of a deep ice cover in the Pleistocene (that helped producing the loess highly productive soils of central and northern Europe); the latitude of Iberia, that tended to anticipate the effects of the Holocene climatic changes, thus arriving earlier than in the northern territories to the so-called telocratic (decay) phase of the environmental natural evolution; the knowledge of dry episodes in the Holocene, namely around 6600 BC and 5600 BC (that could have accelerated an impoverishment of the soils and, as a consequence, may have had an influence in the decision of human groups to become farmers). Arguments that refrain this are, mainly, the absence of undisputed evidence and the absence of well dated palynological contexts. The IPT has hence engaged such a project, looking simultaneously to the climate and the environment.
2009
From Tiago Fraga:
Since 2006, archaeologists are studying the best harbour of the Algarve for some of the rich naval history of Portugal and the world. Our goal is to understand the amazing technology humans have created to survive in one of the most hostile environments Earth has to offer us and to understand the maritime culture’s level of participation on the shaping of the modern world. George Bass states “Long before there were farmers there were sailors”. Sailors have with their blood and lives built the world. As they explored, traded, fought and died they were carriers of news, of ideas, of new foods and of new technology. Sailors proved that the world was round, they linked earth’s continents, they were the first line of defence for several countries, and they were responsible for the economic prosperity that brought our society to today’s advancement. Even today most of the bulk traffic of the world is under the tender care of sailors. However, because sailors have very little participation on “land life” they have always been seen as second class citizens, and have been neglected in mankind’s tale. In the present time, scientists are trying to understand how did this culture impacts history, how did their technology evolve and what was the extent of their participation on humankind's development. Not only to repair a past injustice, but also to plan for a better future. Our contribution to this study comes from understanding the maritime aspects of Lagos and at the same time to find and study shipwrecks that fill the gaps of our current knowledge of shipbuilding.
Since 2006, archaeologists are studying the best harbour of the Algarve for some of the rich naval history of Portugal and the world. Our goal is to understand the amazing technology humans have created to survive in one of the most hostile environments Earth has to offer us and to understand the maritime culture’s level of participation on the shaping of the modern world. George Bass states “Long before there were farmers there were sailors”. Sailors have with their blood and lives built the world. As they explored, traded, fought and died they were carriers of news, of ideas, of new foods and of new technology. Sailors proved that the world was round, they linked earth’s continents, they were the first line of defence for several countries, and they were responsible for the economic prosperity that brought our society to today’s advancement. Even today most of the bulk traffic of the world is under the tender care of sailors. However, because sailors have very little participation on “land life” they have always been seen as second class citizens, and have been neglected in mankind’s tale. In the present time, scientists are trying to understand how did this culture impacts history, how did their technology evolve and what was the extent of their participation on humankind's development. Not only to repair a past injustice, but also to plan for a better future. Our contribution to this study comes from understanding the maritime aspects of Lagos and at the same time to find and study shipwrecks that fill the gaps of our current knowledge of shipbuilding.
Tiago has given several lectures to the AAA about maritime archaeology.
Jan 2008 : The Lagos Survey
May 2008: Investigation into the wreck of the Santo António de Tanná in Mombasa Harbour.
Dec 2010 : Diving in the bay of Lagos (about his project).
Serious scientific work can only begin after students are sufficiently trained in working underwater and in using the equipment. Tiago was given a grant to train 9 students in maritime archaeology during the summer.
Jan 2008 : The Lagos Survey
May 2008: Investigation into the wreck of the Santo António de Tanná in Mombasa Harbour.
Dec 2010 : Diving in the bay of Lagos (about his project).
Serious scientific work can only begin after students are sufficiently trained in working underwater and in using the equipment. Tiago was given a grant to train 9 students in maritime archaeology during the summer.
