Telmo Pereira | Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (original) (raw)

Congresses by Telmo Pereira

International Conference on Use-Wear Analysis: Use-Wear 2012, 2014

Lithic analysis is one of the most important disciplines in prehistoric archaeology, and during t... more Lithic analysis is one of the most important disciplines in prehistoric archaeology, and during the last 200 years archaeologists have been trying to extract the most information possible through technological, typological and functional analysis on stone tools. In this paper, we will focus on functional analysis, presenting a critical view on how use-wear studies have been performed. Experimental studies have been recurrently used as the most reliable method to get use-wear traces that are similar to those found in archaeological artefacts after they have been used in different actions and used materials. However, critical and sceptical debates have pointed out that such replications might be too subjective, especially as several key variables are not controlled. Therefore, results are sometimes seen as problematic or inadequate.
Based on this debate, we suggest in this paper a new experimental design based on controlled conditions, where each key variable can be identified, quantified and analyzed. We believe this new approach can help functional analysis to become an even more important tool for the inference of past human behaviour.

8º Congresso Nacional de Geomorfologia: Geomorfologia 2017: livro de atas, 2017

A characterization and interpretation of the Pliocene and Pleistocene geomorphological and sedime... more A characterization and interpretation of the Pliocene and Pleistocene geomorphological and sedimentary records of Peniche - Atouguia da Baleia littoral are here presented. Several wave-cut platforms were characterized and mapped, respectively, at: 33-36 m, a vast culminant surface only locally preserved, associated with yellowish fine to very coarse pebbly sands, and also by very coarse whitish sands; 24-27 m, a very wide wave-cut platform covered by whitish bioclastic pebbly sands sometimes cemented; 20-21 m, only locally represented, with some very coarse whitish very coarse sandstones; 15-17
m, covered by fine to very coarse pebbly yellowish sands, with a fossiliferous travertine breccia at top; 10-12 m, with yellowish very coarse sandstones, with a travertine breccia at top; and 6-8 m, with a marine conglomerate and an upper coarse sandstone.
The culminant marine platform and associated marine deposits are correlated with the important marine incursion dated as 3.7 Ma and the five marine terraces that are located above the modern wave-cut platform ate correlated to the periods of highest sea-level during the Pleistocene MIS’s. In Furninha cave, the succession of aeolian fine sands intercalated with levels rich in fossils containing industries of Middle to Upper Palaeolithic should bracket the interval 80-12ka (MIS4, MIS3 and MIS2), coeval with the lowering of sea-level and cold climate conditions. The consolidated late Pleistocene aeolian pink fine sands are covered by whitish loose fine sands (MIS1).

Vila Velha de Rodão é particularmente conhecida pela presença de sítios moustierenses de ar livre... more Vila Velha de Rodão é particularmente conhecida pela presença de sítios moustierenses de ar livre, alguns deles com muito boa preservação. Dentro destes, destacam-se Foz do Enxarrique (33.4 ka), com a maior colecção de restos faunísticos em contexto de ar livre moustierenses em Portugal e Vilas Ruivas (68 ka +35 ka/−26 ka e 51 ka +13 ka/−12 ka), uma das muito poucas, também de ar livre, com lareiras, buracos de poste, e a única com para-ventos.
No presente artigo apresentamos Cobrinhos, um novo sítio moustierense identiicado no Outono de 2014, a 2,3 km para montante da Foz do Enxarrique, durante a ampliação da fábrica de papel da AMS, S.A.. Dada a urgência da intervenção, sem possibilidade de alteração do projecto ou do calendário de obra, foi necessário proceder de forma muito mais expedita do que é usual. Os resultados preliminares mostram que o nível ocupacional, constituído por várias dezenas de milhares de peças, se encontra disperso por cerca de 2500 m2, concentrado numa área de 1600m2, mas bem delimitado verticalmente numa facha de 40cm, sem se verificarem quaisquer misturas com artefactos de outras épocas.
Apesar de ainda não se encontrar datado, as características de Cobrinhos, principalmente no que diz respeito à sua implantação, mostraram que o conhecimento do Paleolítico na região está longe de se encontrar esgotado e que o seu progresso poderá depender do redireccionamento da investigação para sectores ainda não explorados.

Raw materials exploitation in Prehistory: sourcing, processing and distribution 10 – 12 March 20... more Raw materials exploitation in Prehistory: sourcing, processing and distribution

10 – 12 March 2016 | FARO

www.rawmaterials2016.com

Papers by Telmo Pereira

Vila Velha de Rodão é particularmente conhecida pela presença de sítios moustierenses de ar livre... more Vila Velha de Rodão é particularmente conhecida pela presença de sítios moustierenses de ar livre, alguns deles com muito boa preservação. Dentro destes, destacam-se Foz do Enxarrique (33.4 ka), com a maior colecção de restos faunísticos em contexto de ar livre moustierenses em Portugal e Vilas Ruivas (68 ka +35 ka/−26 ka e 51 ka +13 ka/−12 ka), uma das muito poucas, também de ar livre, com lareiras, buracos de poste, e a única com para-ventos. No presente artigo apresentamos Cobrinhos, um novo sítio moustierense identiicado no Outono de 2014, a 2,3 km para montante da Foz do Enxarrique, durante a ampliação da fábrica de papel da AMS, S.A.. Dada a urgência da intervenção, sem possibilidade de alteração do projecto ou do calendário de obra, foi necessário proceder de forma muito mais expedita do que é usual. Os resultados preliminares mostram que o nível ocupacional constituído por várias dezenas de milhares de peças, se encontra disperso por cerca de 2500 m2, concentrado numa área d...

Here we discuss human skeletal finds from shell banks in Bohuslän, western Sweden. We describe th... more Here we discuss human skeletal finds from shell banks in Bohuslän, western Sweden. We describe the early Mesolithic skeleton from Österöd, Bro parish, in central Bohuslän. The skeleton was originally found in 19o3 by diggers in a shell bank, but was only recovered in 1933 by Johan Alin. In 2oo7, 14 C analysis of a tooth produced the date 9o25 ± 65 BP uncalibrated, making the skeleton one of the oldest known from Scandinavia. Osteological determinations show that the bones are from a woman of old age, at least 6o and probably 84-88 years old. Her stature can be estimated to about 17o cm. Although the bones are fragmented, all body parts are represented, and the body was most likely intact when interred. We interpret the find as a grave, possibly in a sitting position. Interestingly, the δ 13 C value of-18.o ‰ indicates only a moderate intake of marine protein, in spite of the location of the site in a highly marine environment. We also discuss other finds from Bohuslän, including Skebbevall.

The article summarizes the results of work since 2010 to develop nondestructive energy dispersive... more The article summarizes the results of work since 2010 to develop nondestructive energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (EDXRF) as a non-destructive method for determining the provenience of flint in northern Europe. Some 40 localities from Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine have been sampled and analyzed. Trace elements have not proven particularly effective in drawing distinctions between and among flint and chert because they often occur below, or near, detection limits. However CaO and Fe compositions usually generated the highest count rates and total counts using EDXRF and their concentrations allowed satisfactory partitioning of some of the flints we analyzed. The Use of Non-Destructive EDXRF for Sourcing Flint 99 EDXRF can help us to discriminate among various outcrops of flint used for tool production during prehistory. Future work involves investigating correlations between flint chemistry and visual appearance, as well as investigating source-critical asp...

Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering A, 2017

This paper reports the practicability of using coffee residues to remove widely used basic dyes l... more This paper reports the practicability of using coffee residues to remove widely used basic dyes like MB (Methylene Blue) from wastewaters. The effect of different batch system parameters, namely stirring speed, pH, initial dye concentration and contact time were studied. Moreover, in continuous fixed-bed column systems, the effects of parameters such as bed-depth, flow rate and initial dye concentration were examined. The experimental batch systems data were simulated using (a) Freundlich, Langmuir and Sips isotherm models and (b) 1st order, 2nd order, and intra-particle kinetic models. The results revealed that the MB is fairly adsorbed on coffee residues. This process could be a low cost technique for the removal of basic dyes from aqueous systems.

Journal of Lithic Studies, 2017

Através dos registos geomorfológicos e sedimentares, os rios fornecem relevantes arquivos de muda... more Através dos registos geomorfológicos e sedimentares, os rios fornecem relevantes arquivos de mudanças paleoambientais, nomeadamente paleoclimáticas e paleogeográficas. As sucessões sedimentares melhor datadas são as mais importantes, com as idades numéricas dos respetivos dos eventos sedimentares, de fósseis e de materiais arqueológicos, obtidas por uma variedade de técnicas. Os arquivos fluviais do Quaternário fornecidos pelo rio Tejo em Portugal (Baixo Tejo) constituem um importante repositório de dados para estudos da evolução da dinâmica sedimentar e da paisagem, bem como da ocupação humana pré-histórica. O atual estado de conhecimentos resultantes das sucessivas abordagens usando métodos da geomorfologia, litostratigrafia, arqueologia e datação numérica no estudo do Terraço T4 do Baixo Tejo é aqui sintetizado. Este trabalho tem enfoque nos sítios com indústrias do Paleolítico que foram encontradas no Terraço T4, o qual é constituído por uma unidade basal de cascalheiras e uma u...

$Research paper thumbnail of An unusual coronoid fracture in a fragment of ulna recovered from the Prehistoric site of Buraca da Moira Rock Shelter (Boa Vista, Leiria)$

Antropologia Portuguesa, 2018

In 2015, several disarticulated human skeletal remains were identified in the top layers of the p... more In 2015, several disarticulated human skeletal remains were identified in the top layers of the prehistoric site of Buraca da Moira Rock Shelter (Boa Vista, Leiria), during the archaeological excavation carried out under the scope of the EcoPLis — Human Occupations in the Pleistocene Ecotones of the River Lis project. The recovery of chert, constiquartz and quartzite blanks, a schist plate, as well as adornments in bone and shell indicates a Late Neolithic-Chalcolithic chronology. The disarticulated human assemblage, composed of a total of 129 bone and tooth fragments, allowed the estimation of a minimum number of six individuals. Among the remains recovered, an upper portion of an adult right ulna lacking the coronoid process was identified. Replacing it, a semi-oval groovewith smooth contours and exposing some trabecular bone was observed. The location, type of bone change, and the observed signs of bone healing are consistent with an uncommon trauma: a fracture of the coronoid pr...

PloS one, 2017

There are multiple hypotheses for human responses to glacial cycling in the Late Pleistocene, inc... more There are multiple hypotheses for human responses to glacial cycling in the Late Pleistocene, including changes in population size, interconnectedness, and mobility. Lithic technological analysis informs us of human responses to environmental change because lithic assemblage characteristics are a reflection of raw material transport, reduction, and discard behaviors that depend on hunter-gatherer social and economic decisions. Pinnacle Point Site 5-6 (PP5-6), Western Cape, South Africa is an ideal locality for examining the influence of glacial cycling on early modern human behaviors because it preserves a long sequence spanning marine isotope stages (MIS) 5, 4, and 3 and is associated with robust records of paleoenvironmental change. The analysis presented here addresses the question, what, if any, lithic assemblage traits at PP5-6 represent changing behavioral responses to the MIS 5-4-3 interglacial-glacial cycle? It statistically evaluates changes in 93 traits with no a priori as...

Mainake, 2011

In this paper we present a brief synthesis of the Middle Paleolithic in Portugal, focusing both t... more In this paper we present a brief synthesis of the Middle Paleolithic in Portugal, focusing both the lithic and faunal assemblages, along with the settlement patterns. Despite the number of sites being small, it seems clear that the Portuguese territory might have been that where the last Neanderthals have lived. At the same time, it also seems that since ~240ka these communities presented a spectrum of particular behavioral features that allow us to distinct them from those located at East of the Pyrenees. In fact, while these were specialized in hunting and exploitation of reindeer with flint tools, those located in Portugal were specialized in the exploitation of a wider diversity of available resources. Such difference might be related with strong differences on environment and landscape, once this territory did not present evidence of strong impact in the most rigorous phases of the glacial periods. This diverse exploitation might have been the base of the survival of Neanderthal populations in the southwesternmost part of Iberia.

"O concheiro mesolítico do Cabeço da Amoreira foi um dos primeiros a merecer a atenção d... more "O concheiro mesolítico do Cabeço da Amoreira foi um dos primeiros a merecer a atenção de investigadores, ainda no séc. XIX. Desde esse momento que sofreu um conjunto alargado de intervenções, sendo a mais recente integrada num projecto financiado pela FCT e que se encontra presentemente a decorrer. Os actuais trabalhos, numa área de 124m2 do concheiro, desenvolvem-se com o objectivo do estudo da estratigrafia detalhada do local, da organização espacial e da cronologia, bem como de outros aspectos culturais, nomeadamente a tecnologia lítica e a subsistência. Paralelamente aos trabalhos na área do concheiro foram ainda localizados novosloc i em redor do concheiro já conhecido, com horizontes do Neolítico Antigo, Mesolítico e Paleolítico Superior, que são também objecto de trabalhos arqueológicos. Serão aqui apresentados os resultados destes trabalhos que decorreram nos verões de 2008 e 2009."

From an anthropological perspective, the passage from the Gravettian to the Solutrean is one of t... more From an anthropological perspective, the passage from the Gravettian to the Solutrean is one of the most interesting transition periods in Old World Prehistory. Between 22 kyr BP and 21 kyr BP, during the beginning stages of the Last Glacial Maximum, Iberia and Southwest France witness a process of substitution of a Pan-European Technocomplex—the Gravettian—to one of the first examples of regionalism by Anatomically Modern Humans in the European continent—the Solutrean. While the question of the origins of the Solutrean is almost as old as its first definition, the process under which it substituted the Gravettian started to be readdressed, both in Portugal and in France, after the mid 1990’s. Two cronological models for the transition have been advanced, but until very recently the lack of new archaeological contexts of the period, and the fact that the many of the sequences have been drastically affected by post depositional disturbances during the Lascaux event, prevented their s...

The Gravettian is the most important phase for the technological and cultural setting of the Uppe... more The Gravettian is the most important phase for the technological and cultural setting of the Upper Paleolithic sequence in the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula. For the Gravettian record in this territory, the archaeological site of Vale Boi (Vila do Bispo, Cape St. Vicente, Portugal) provides one of the most complete chrono-stratigraphic sequences. This paper focus on technological and typological variability of the Gravettian lithic assemblages from Vale Boi, dated from c. 33 to c. 28 ka cal BP, and tests affinities with other Gravettian contexts from central Portugal and southern Spain. Technological analysis shows that Gravettian lithic assemblages from Vale Boi are characterized by reduction strategies focuses on flake and bladelet debitage. Backed technology represents the most important morph-type. However, instead of the so-called typical Gravettian points (i.e. Gravette and Microgravette points), the early Gravettian of Vale Boi is characterized by double backed and bipointed bladelets. Statistical analysis shows that data from Vale Boi represent a new insight on human technological and socio-cultural behaviour during the onset of Upper Paleolithic in Iberia.

Espacio Tiempo y Forma. Serie I, Prehistoria y Arqueología, 2013

Trabajos de Prehistoria, 2012

The Upper Paleolithic of SW Iberia is marked by the presence of chopper and flake assemblages in ... more The Upper Paleolithic of SW Iberia is marked by the presence of chopper and flake assemblages in quartzite. Detailed characterization at regional and chronological levels of these assemblages is of the utmost importance because, in the most Paleolithic recent phases, they can be found without type-fossils associated or in non-datable deposits. In this study, we used 24 quartzite assemblages from SW Iberia, to test the diagnostic character of this raw material through attribute analysis and refitting. Results indicate that Gravettian, Solutrean and Magdalenian can be distinguished on their quartzite assemblages, enabling, by itself, the differentiation of the Upper Paleolithic key-sequence. They also indicate that Gravettian and Magdalenian assemblages are technologically closer to each other than to Solutrean, a pattern possibly related with the adaptation to the Last Glacial Maximum.

Quaternary International, 2015

The Gravettian in Portugal is known primarily from three main areas: the Côa valley, the central ... more The Gravettian in Portugal is known primarily from three main areas: the Côa valley, the central region between the Mondego and Tagus river valleys, and Algarve in the south. Each region seems to be represented by various cultural facies that likely correspond to different social networks with diverse technological, subsistence and settlement organization. Despite these differences, the Portuguese Gravettian appears to have had a similar emergence in each area, beginning at least in central and southern Portugal around 33 ka cal BP, and ending ca. 26.5 ka cal BP with the appearance of the Proto-Solutrean. The present study focuses on the various aspects mentioned above, presenting the more recent dates for Portugal and the boundaries for the beginning and end of the Gravettian phase based on Bayesian modeling. The results suggest that there is a possibility of a two thousand years overlap between the late Mousterian and the Early Gravettian in central and southern Portugal; that the Early Gravettian started with the onset of the Heinrich Event 3 and lasted c. 4000 years, followed by the Late Gravettian and gave place to the Proto-Solutrean around 26.5 ka cal BP, with the beginning of the Heinrich Event 2.

Quaternary International, 2013

The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 2010

International Conference on Use-Wear Analysis: Use-Wear 2012, 2014

8º Congresso Nacional de Geomorfologia: Geomorfologia 2017: livro de atas, 2017

Raw materials exploitation in Prehistory: sourcing, processing and distribution 10 – 12 March 20... more Raw materials exploitation in Prehistory: sourcing, processing and distribution

10 – 12 March 2016 | FARO

www.rawmaterials2016.com

Vila Velha de Rodão é particularmente conhecida pela presença de sítios moustierenses de ar livre... more Vila Velha de Rodão é particularmente conhecida pela presença de sítios moustierenses de ar livre, alguns deles com muito boa preservação. Dentro destes, destacam-se Foz do Enxarrique (33.4 ka), com a maior colecção de restos faunísticos em contexto de ar livre moustierenses em Portugal e Vilas Ruivas (68 ka +35 ka/−26 ka e 51 ka +13 ka/−12 ka), uma das muito poucas, também de ar livre, com lareiras, buracos de poste, e a única com para-ventos. No presente artigo apresentamos Cobrinhos, um novo sítio moustierense identiicado no Outono de 2014, a 2,3 km para montante da Foz do Enxarrique, durante a ampliação da fábrica de papel da AMS, S.A.. Dada a urgência da intervenção, sem possibilidade de alteração do projecto ou do calendário de obra, foi necessário proceder de forma muito mais expedita do que é usual. Os resultados preliminares mostram que o nível ocupacional constituído por várias dezenas de milhares de peças, se encontra disperso por cerca de 2500 m2, concentrado numa área d...

Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering A, 2017

Journal of Lithic Studies, 2017

$Research paper thumbnail of An unusual coronoid fracture in a fragment of ulna recovered from the Prehistoric site of Buraca da Moira Rock Shelter (Boa Vista, Leiria)$

Antropologia Portuguesa, 2018

PloS one, 2017

Mainake, 2011

Espacio Tiempo y Forma. Serie I, Prehistoria y Arqueología, 2013

Trabajos de Prehistoria, 2012

Quaternary International, 2015

Quaternary International, 2013

The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 2010

Journal of Archaeological Science, 2014

In this paper, we focused on shell bead production during the Upper Paleolithic at the site of Va... more In this paper, we focused on shell bead production during the Upper Paleolithic at the site of Vale Boi in Southwestern Portugal as a means of understanding social visual transmission. Vale Boi has a long sequence dated to between c. 32 and 7 ka cal BP with well-preserved bone and shell assemblages from early Gravettian to Neolithic times. The archaeological shell bead collection includes over 100 specimens from the Gravettian, Proto-Solutrean, Solutrean and Magdalenian layers from Vale Boi, including at least 5 species: Littorina obtusata or Littorina fabalis, Trivia sp., Antalis sp., Mitrella scripta and Theodoxus fluviatilis. Experimental replication techniques included scratching, sawing, and hammering using lithic and bone implements on both internal and external sides of the shells. Experimental results indicate that there are a series of potential fabrication techniques for bead production, but there is a clear tendency in the archaeological record to use a single technique for each shell species. There also seems to be a focus on using a fast technique rather than a slower one, which seems to produce higher quality results. Finally, we also address the topic of the impact of bead production techniques on the evolution of bead design technology through all Upper Paleolithic record in SW Portugal.

Journal of Archaeological Science, 2013

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2019

Cobrinhos (Vila Velha do Ródão, central eastern Portugal) is a Mousterian site found during facto... more Cobrinhos (Vila Velha do Ródão, central eastern Portugal) is a Mousterian site found during factory construction in 2014. This area is located in the Lower Tejo valley, which is characterized in terms of geomorphology by six river terraces, numbered downwards (T1 to T6), with Palaeolithic industries associated only with T4 to T6. Terrace T4 was recently dated as spanning ca. 340 ka to 155 ka, with Acheulean in the basal and middle levels and early Mousterian in the uppermost levels. The geological context at Cobrinhos is a colluvial unit that links to the top of T4. It has evidence for palaeoweathering with the same characteristics as seen in T1 to T4, considerably different from that seen in T5 and T6. Despite disturbance by ploughing, the site shows a uniform distribution of sizes and shapes of lithic artefacts, with thousands of implements <30 mm and a coherent Mousterian assemblage including Levallois and discoidal reduction pieces, Levallois flakes, blades and points, pseudo-Levallois points, notches, denticulates, sidescrapers, and an absence of Acheulean or Upper Palaeolithic tools. The available data suggest that the colluvial unit is coeval with the topmost T4 deposits and that the Cobrinhos industry is in its original geomorphological context. Although the colluvial unit cannot be dated directly, from the combination of site data and available published luminescence ages for T4, we suggest a probable age of ca. 165 to 155 ka for this industry. These results are of relevance in the investigation of the demise of archaic Pleistocene human populations and the proliferation of Neanderthal groups in Iberia.

This document provides the lithic traits and definitions recorded during the analysis of the Pinn... more This document provides the lithic traits and definitions recorded during the analysis of the Pinnacle Point 5-6 North Long Section. These methods were presented at the Paleoanthropology Society Meetings, Calgary, April 8-9, 2014 as part of a talk titled “A high-resolution Late Pleistocene (~90-50 ka) Middle Stone Age Lithic Technological Sequence at Pinnacle Point Site 5-6, South Africa” by Jayne Wilkins, Kyle S. Brown, Simen Oestmo, Telmo Pereira, Kathryn Ranhorn, Benjamin J. Schoville, and Curtis W. Marean.

O trabalho que agora se apresenta não teria sido possível se, em meu redor, não tivesse existido ... more O trabalho que agora se apresenta não teria sido possível se, em meu redor, não tivesse existido um conjunto de pessoas que me ensinasse, me permitisse ter tido condições de trabalho e com quem tivesse podido trocar ideias. A todas elas devo um sincero e profundo agradecimento. As minhas primeiras palavras são para os meus orientadores e amigos Francisco Almeida e Nuno Bicho. A minha gratidão para com ambos não se limita ao facto de me terem aceite enquanto orientando, mas também pela sua permanente disponibilidade (mesmo quando os seus carregadíssimos calendários praticamente não o permitiam), pela segurança que sempre me transmitiram, pelos conselhos, orientações (e por vezes desorientações), pela abertura de horizontes, por me terem permitido estudar sítios sob a sua responsabilidade, mas sobretudo pela confiança depositada na minha pessoa e por me terem envolvido nos seus projectos. A ambos devo muito do que aprendi e do que sou enquanto arqueólogo. Espero não os ter desiludido. Uma palavra especial para Fernando Real, por me ter convidado a desenvolver o meu doutoramento nas instalações do ex-CIPA, mesmo não sendo esta a minha instituição de acolhimento, gesto que ganha maior valor após a extinção do Instituto Português de Arqueologia e a criação do IGESPAR, IP, altura em que os investigadores em situação idêntica foram informados que não poderiam continuar ali a sua actividade dado que gastavam electricidade e água, quando iam à casa de banho. Dentro do mesmo enquadramento um agradecimento especial também a Ana Cristina Araújo por me ter garantido, desde o início, não só as condições mínimas de trabalho (mesa, cadeira, computador, internet e um candeeiro), como também por, desde a mudança de condições, ter lutado diariamente pela nossa permanência naquelas instalações, sob ameaça directa de processos disciplinares. Ainda lhe tenho a agradecer o respeito, muitas horas de (por vezes acessa) discussão, e o envolvimento em diversas escavações. Ainda do IPA, um agradecimento especial a José Paulo Ruas, não só pelas fantásticas fotografias dos materiais do Abrigo do Alecrim mas principalmente por me ter ensinado a fotografar. Ao querido amigo e jamais esquecido Nuno Caldeira por, independentemente da hora, estar sempre disponível para resolver qualquer problema informático 5 real ou aselhice minha. Aos meus amigos e colegas do CIPA Cleia Detry, David Gonçalves, Sónia Gabriel, Carlos Pimenta e Simon Davis pela troca de ideias, artigos e conhecimentos. Aos meus amigos, colegas de trabalho e companheiros de viagem João Cascalheira, João Marreiros, Marina Évora, Carolina Mendonça, Célia Gonçalves e Luís Jesus, pelas horas de discussão, troca de artigos e sugestões. A Rita Dias, João Marreiros, Marina Évora, Célia Gonçalves e João Cascalheira devo ainda o agradecimento pelo acolhimento em suas casas sempre que me tive de deslocar a Faro. Uma palavra especial também à minha amiga e colega Sara Cura, por me ter introduzido nas problemáticas aqui abordadas, bem como à actividade associativa. A João Zilhão, por me ter permitido o estudo de muitas das suas colecções, nomeadamente da Gruta do Caldeirão, mas também pelos conhecimentos, sugestões, alertas, opiniões e ideias. A Marisa Loureiro, agradeço as informações, esclarecimentos e documentação de índole geológica. A Marina Évora pela sua paciente revisão crítica ao texto e imagens. Pelas indicações bibliográficas, artigos, separatas e livros enviados, mesmo quando não solicitados: Araújo, Andrew Peclin, Michael Kunze, entre muito outros que por lapso não foram mencionados; a 7 Resumo O objectivo do presente trabalho é compreender a exploração do quartzito durante o Paleolítico Superior na Faixa Atlântica Peninsular, especialmente no seu troço Sudoeste. Para tal, foram estudados conjuntos provenientes da Estremadura, do Alentejo e do Algarve, através da análise de atributos e do Método das Remontagens. Os resultados foram posteriormente confrontados com os modelos existentes tanto para a exploração desta matéria-prima como para aquilo que terá sido o comportamento geral das comunidades caçadoras-recolectoras em causa. Concluiu-se que, o quartzito foi um pilar essencial da economia destas sociedades, utilizado tendo em vista objectivos concretos e não apenas uma forma de economizar sílex; que essas sociedades desenvolveram conceitos próprios para a exploração desta matériaprima, nomeadamente para a sua circulação na paisagem, não sendo a mesma arbitrária; que as suas características físicas não foram condicionantes desses padrões; e que esses conceitos de exploração variaram diacronicamente, sendo possível distinguir os vários sub-períodos do Paleolítico Superior. Inferiu-se ainda existir a possibilidade de, as características físicas da Península Ibérica associadas à pressão demográfica das populações neanderthais que ocupavam o seu sector Sudoeste, terem forçado os primeiros grupos de Humanos anatomicamente modernos, a mudar de uma economia baseada em sílex, muitas vezes obtida a grandes distâncias, por uma baseada em matérias-primas locais como o quartzito e o quartzo. A boa qualidade, variedade e disponiblidade dos recursos permitiu que este substrato tecnológico se mantivesse até à Idade dos Metais.

Abrigo do Poço is a rock shelter located in the karstic canyon of Ribeira das Chitas at the basin... more Abrigo do Poço is a rock shelter located in the karstic canyon of Ribeira das Chitas at the basin of the River Lis (Central Portugal). The site has a sequence starting from the 8.2 ka Event to, at least, the LGM. Despite the multiple available resources in the vicinities, the main activity during the Upper Paleolithic seems to have been the exploitation of a small chert outcrop located right above it. This outcrop extends in patches though the vicinities due to the combination of tectonic activity and fluvial erosion that results in multiple the canyons. Interestingly, the outcrop closer to the site is one where the chert is less expressive.
The chert from this site has different colors, patterns and textures due to internal variability and to external agents (tectonic, patina).
Here we present the macroscopic and geochemical characteristics of this outcrop through the valley and discuss the issue of potential misleading of interpretation when only one of these approaches is used.

The research at Buraca da Moira rockshelter is within the scope of the project EcoPLis – Human Oc... more The research at Buraca da Moira rockshelter is within the scope of the project EcoPLis – Human Occupations
in the Pleistocene Ecotones of the River Lis. The site is located in Murtórios valley (Leiria, Portugal). It corresponds
to a cave sectioned by an old quarry and yields a sequence with Holocene and Pleistocene deposits
affected by bioturbation. The archaeological levels have abundant disarticulate osteological human remains of
small dimensions from adult and non‑adult individuals. These are associated to lithics, adornments in shell,
rock and bone, but very few pottery. In the site were also found a Vale Comprido point and a Mediterranean
Carenated point, congruent with Proto‑Solutrean and Solutrean occupations that are expected to be found
underneath levels. In this paper, we present the site and a brief description of the archaeological assemblages,
highlighting those recovered from the Holocene context.
Keywords: EcoPLis, Holocene, Pleistocene, Caves.

This work focuses the mulLplicity and heterogeneity of primary and secondary chert sources that a... more This work focuses the mulLplicity and heterogeneity of primary and secondary chert sources that are thought to have been used throughout the Pre--History in the Portuguese territory. We choose to approach and compare two different regions: Estremadura ( and Algarve ( in orange). Our goal was to verify if the different types of chert available in the Portuguese territory had different mechanical proprieLes, namely, hardness. In this poster, we present the results from an experimental study, using the Schmidt Hammer (Silver Schmidt BL type) with the purpose of measure the surface hardness of some nodules and, with that, get quanLtaLve and systemaLc data to start measuring raw material quality.

Vila Velha de Ródão (central inland Portugal) is best known for well preserved open Mousterian ca... more Vila Velha de Ródão (central inland Portugal) is best known for well preserved open Mousterian campsites such as the Foz do Enxarrique (33.6 ka) or Vilas Ruivas (54 ka) that yielded evidence of highly preserved occupational layers with abundant faunal remains (the first) and features interpreted as hearts and windshields (the second). The region is also rich in other periods, namely Acheulean and, during the Holocene, Pre- and historical sites, rock art, dolmens and mines.
Here we report another site, Cobrinhos, located 2,3km upstream from Foz do Enxarrique and 2,5km from the Pleistocene course of the Tagus River. Cobrinhos is an open-air site found in the fall of 2014 during the construction of a new building for a paper factory. The occupation seems to result from a Neanderthal quarry that exploited a dense debris flow from the nearby 400m high quartzite crests. The original archaeological layer seems to have moved downslope and presently occupies an area of 2500m2.
By opposite to what is usual in open-air sites, there are no remains that can be associated to other time-periods, which suggests a good integrity of the deposit.
The assemblage is composed by more than four thousand artifacts, from cores to chips, ~99% in quartzite and ~1% in milky quartz. The cortex present in the artifacts is congruent only with the debris, suggesting an exclusive local exploitation. The industry is typically Mousterian, with predominance of Levallois and Discoidal debitage, and abundant retouched tools, suggesting that retouch was a desirable and not only a result of edge reshaping.
Several sediment samples were taken for geological analysis and absolute dating. Also, the assemblage is presently under study for technological, typological refitting and special analysis.
In short, Cobrinhos represents a novel type-site in Portugal with crucial information to understand Neanderthal ecological and technological behavior.

Modern human behavior has been defined by a pack of features that include exploitation of marine ... more Modern human behavior has been defined by a pack of features that include exploitation of marine resources, production of ornaments, bone tools, art, lithic heat treatment, use of pigments, burials and long distance exchanges between groups. In Iberia, the appearance of this phenomenon was traditionally related with the entrance of Modern Humans, but recently new evidences points to the possibility that Neanderthals used some of these elements, back to ~150ka. Recently, a new project was started in order to shed light on the differences between the management of raw materials (flint, quartz, quartzite and greywacke) by those two populations living in the Southwestern Iberia. Southwestern Iberia has a rolling hilly landscape, with the geological deposits dating from Paleozoic to the present. Good quality quartz and quartzite are abundant and ubiquitous in the shape of water worn cobbles and pebbles. In the Southernmost areas, quartzite is rare and is replaced by greywacke. Flint is abundant as small nodules and blocks both in primary outcrops and in secondary deposits. The distribution of these raw materials created flint rich, mixed geology and flint poor sub-regions. The latter are frequently far from flint outcrops not only due to the distance itself but also because important geographic features such as the Tagus River act as boundaries.

SW Iberia is a diverse geologic region where all Paleolithic populations extensively used chert, ... more SW Iberia is a diverse geologic region where all Paleolithic populations extensively used chert, quartz and quartzite. This may explain why none of the Middle Paleolithic sites from the region fit with the traditional French Mousterian. Recently, a new coastal site, Mira Nascente, dated to 40-42ka, was found with an assemblage dominated by good quality flint. New lithic analyses include technological and typological studies, use wear and refitting. Preliminary results indicate that the flint is not local. Refitting and use-wear indicate that the site is highly preserved despite the absence of faunal remains. Lithic analyses show the presence of a Levallois technology and a low frequency of retouched tools, similar to other Middle Paleolithic sites in this region. The assemblage does not fit into any Bordes Mousterian facies. Based on this fact, it might be possible that SW Iberian Neanderthals had a low-curated technology, which probably represents by itself an independent Mousterian regional facies.

Flint, quartz and quartzite were the three main raw materials used during the Portuguese Upper Pa... more Flint, quartz and quartzite were the three main raw materials used during the Portuguese Upper Paleolithic. Their quantities are usually balanced, but several researchers considered quartzite as a secondary choice. It is, however, present in almost every site from Gravettian to Mesolithic reaching 90% of the collection (average around 35%). This means quartzite was of major importance to Paleolithic communities, but so far, its study has been very limited. This paper will focus on the study of quartzite technology based on attribute analysis and refitting, from a serious of Upper Paleolithic sites from central and southern Portugal.

The Mesolithic in Portuguese territory has been, since the beginning of Archaeology in Portugal, ... more The Mesolithic in Portuguese territory has been, since the beginning of Archaeology in Portugal, very importance. By the late nineteenth century the first excavations took place and since then studies in various disciplines have focused their interest in the Mesolithic shell middens in Portuguese territory. The Cabeço da Amoreira is one of the best known shell middens with almost 150 years of research.

Data from a recent multidisciplinary project, initiated in 2008, seemed to have uncovered the presence of an epipaleolithic level below the Mesolithic occupatio n and a Neolithic at the close by locus, suggesting a possible technological, cultural and genetic carry-over. The present work, although preliminary, based on technological lithic analysis, as well as a functional and stylistic approach, will try to understand patterns of occupation and exploitation of the territory during the devolpment of the Muge Mesolithic community.

A implantação da infra-estrutura de abastecimento de água do Sistema Multimunicipal do Oeste levo... more A implantação da infra-estrutura de abastecimento de água do Sistema Multimunicipal do Oeste levou à abertura de uma extensa rede de longas e profundas valas que expuseram a sequência sedimentar quaternária da região Sul de Rio Maior ao longo de dezenas de quilómetros. O acompanhamento desta obra permitiu compreender a dinâmica de sedimentação/erosão bem como a identificação e implantação dos vestígios arqueológicos. A consequente intervenção de diversos sítios permitiu também observar com maior rigor os seus processos de formação e as suas respectivas integridades, bem patentes na presença de conjunto com remontagens e elevadas percentagens de esquírolas.

Em Arruda dos Pisões foi possível intervencionar três sítios – Passal (Solutrense/Calcolítico), Olival do Arneiro (Solutrense/Gravetense) e Quinta da Amieira (Gravetense), no entanto, apesar dos resultados obtidos, parece-nos que a metodologia adoptada é o elemento de maior destaque, uma vez que procurou respeitar quatro componentes:

1º- A técnico-científica nomeadamente com a aplicação do Método de Harris (porque se tratar de uma área urbana cuja construção afectou o subsolo), mas com a subdivisão das U.E.s em níveis artificiais de 10 e 5cm quando apresentavam arqueologia a fim de controlar melhor a dispersão vertical dos artefactos, a recolha imediata dos artefactos evidentes e de elementos que não eram claramente artefactos e que foram guardados à parte, a crivagem com malha de 3mm, a recolha de todo o produto da crivagem e a posterior triagem por pessoal experiente.

2º- A relação qualidade/formação, através da selecção de elementos experientes e conhecedores das realidades em causa (nomeadamente em geologia/geoaqueologia como Marco Liberato) mas também de recém-formados;

3º- Uma componente formativa/científica, com a selecção de elementos interessados em estudar e publicar as colecções;

4º- Uma componente de divulgação do trabalho em artigos e congressos.

Este pacote de medidas permitiu, nomeadamente, a recolha de mais de 9200 artefactos (donde mais de 2100 são esquírolas com menos de 10mm) em 36m2, o seu enquadramento estratigráfico, a identificação dos processos de formação dos contextos, o índice de preservação dos pacotes artefactuais, a inferição das cadeias operatórias e, a publicação e apresentação em congresso.

É sabido que as contingências da arqueologia empresarial normalmente não permitem o aprofundamento do conhecimento dos contextos intervencionados. No entanto, acreditamos que os conjuntos artefactuais e registos produzidos neste âmbito (e que representam mais de 80% dos trabalhos arqueológicos em Portugal) devem ser disponibilizados à comunidade a fim de fazer a ponte para o enriquecimento do conhecimento do Passado.

Palavras-chave: Rio Maior; Paleolítico; Arqueologia de emergência.

In this session we will try to show how the use of digital solutions and 3D technologies can cont... more In this session we will try to show how the use of digital solutions and 3D technologies can contribute to the artefacts and sites study, preservation, divulgation, enriching the traditional
archaeological alpha-numeric data and draws, with new digital formas of visual register and virtual manipulation.
We will present some study projects related with reconstruction and preservation of Virtual Archaeology.

Although still very fragmentary, most evidence concerning Pleistocene ecosystems in Portugal, com... more Although still very fragmentary, most evidence concerning Pleistocene ecosystems in Portugal, comes from karstic deposits where wood charcoal and mammalian bone remains constitute almost the unique source of information.

Pleistocene palaeobotanical studies are extremely rare and the only studies came from Serra da Estrela and Setúbal Península series.

Nevertheless, since the 1940’ the Portuguese Geologic Surveys (“Serviços Geológicos de Portugal”) identified some fluvial clayey layers inside stratigraphical series of Quaternary fluvial terraces, with botanic fossils.
This virtually indicates the viability of a future Pleistocene Fluvial Paleobotanic research programme, whatever it might be.

More recently, palynologic results from ocean cores collected on the Portuguese marine platform showed continental-derived pollen content, partly transported by Tagus and the Sado discharges. The potential interest of comparing both fluvial and marine pollen assemblages in the future seems promising.

In this presentation, it will be provide a state-of-the-art on this issue and a first report on a preliminary inquiry concerning the re-observation of some of these contexts, with a special focus in the Alpiarça Region (Tagus River).

Quartzite industries collections are macro-like. The volume and weight of each artefact makes the... more Quartzite industries collections are macro-like. The volume and weight of each artefact makes the transportation of collections difficult. In one hand, this situation directly affects the study, mainly when it occurs outside the research centres and universities. On the other hand, this transport increases the deterioration of crucial stigma analysis. In this session we will show how the use of 3D technologies can assist on Virtual Archaeology. 3D Reconstruction may help the study, analysis, interpretation and preservation of artefacts, complementing the traditional archaeological alpha-numeric data and illustrations, with new digital forms of visual registration and virtual manipulation. Here we will present a first application test of these technologies in some Palaeolithic cobbles from Granho-Vale Coelheiro.

África tem o registo arqueológico mais longo de todo o Planeta e é o território onde ocorreram as... more África tem o registo arqueológico mais longo de todo o Planeta e é o território onde ocorreram as fases mais relevantes da evolução física, adaptativa, tecnológica e cultural da humanidade. Por esta e outras razões, é uma das regiões que mais atenção recebe da comunidade científica arqueológica. Este facto resulta numa torrente de informação muito diversificada que nem sempre é fácil de gerir ou de manter actualizada. Neste sentido, as obras generalistas surgem como uma ferramenta fundamental de compilarem o estado da arte em diversos assuntos à data da sua edição. Por outro lado, as dimensões do território, as idiossincrasias de cada região, o espaço temporal do registo arqueológico, o vasto leque de disciplinas utilizadas, a lista de casos de estudo e a quantidade de variáveis envolvidas fazem com que qualquer obra deste género apresente algum tipo de lacuna. Neste artigo apresentamos um desses livros através da descrição e análise de cada um dos capítulos e da obra em geral.

Foto da capa: Castro Marim visto do Céu. Ortofoto CNIG, 1995. Este relatório contém dados inédito... more Foto da capa: Castro Marim visto do Céu. Ortofoto CNIG, 1995. Este relatório contém dados inéditos cuja utilização e divulgação necessitará da autorização dos autores CASTRO MARIM E O SEU TERRITÓRIO IMEDIATO DURANTE A ANTIGUIDADE. PALEO-ETNO-BOTÂNICA. RELATÓRIO FINAL PAULA FERNANDA QUEIROZ JOSÉ EDUARDO MATEUS WIM VAN LEEUWAARDEN TELMO PEREIRA DAVID PEREIRA DISE Resumo O presente trabalho consiste no relatório final da investigação arqueobotânica realizada no âmbito do projecto " Castro Marim e o seu território imediato durante a Antiguidade" (Projecto MARCAS -POCTI/38334/HAR/2001). Os resultados do estudo antracológico e carpológico sobre materiais recolhidos durante os trabalhos de escavação arqueológica no Castelo de Castro Marim contribuem para o conhecimento dos recursos vegetais explorados pelas populações locais durante a Idade do Ferro. Algumas elações acerca do coberto vegetal natural e do ecoterritório regional de então são também esboçadas. Trabalhos do CIPA nº. 95 Lisboa, 2006 Trabalhos do CIPA, 95, 2006 Objectivos e tarefas realizadas O presente estudo teve como objectivos: a) contribuir para o conhecimento da envolvente territorial de Castro Marim através da reconstituição do coberto vegetal natural e respectiva zonação ecológica; bem como b) identificar os tipos de vegetação das zonas mais afectadas pela acção do homem, com especial atenção para o reconhecimento dos padrões de alteração antrópica da vegetação semi-natural, das prácticas agrícolas e pecuárias, e da dieta alimentar da população que, durante a Idade do Ferro, habitava a pequena colina na foz do Guadiana. Lista dos tipos xilomorfológicos identificados: Pinaceae Pinus pinea L. (pinheiro manso) Pinus pinaster Aiton (pinheiro bravo) Pinus sp.; Pinus pinea/pinaster (pinheiro sensu lato) Fagaceae Quercus sp. (carvalho sensu lato) Quercus coccifera L. (carrasco) Oleaceae Olea europaea L. (oliveira, zambujeiro) Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl. (freixo) Salicaceae Populus/Salix (choupo, salgueiro) Anacardiaceae Pistacia lentiscus L. (aroeira) Ericaceae Arbutus unedo L. (medronheiro) Erica lusitanica Rud. (queiroga) Erica arborea L. (urze branca) Erica sp. (urze sensu lato) Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull (urze-roxa) Rosaceae Rosaceae Maloideae cf. Pyrus (catapereiro?) Rosaceae Maloideae cf. Crataegus (pilriteiro?) Rosaceae Prunoidea (espinheiro, árvore de fruto?) Prunus (espinheiro, árvore de fruto?) Leguminosae Ulex parviflorus tipo (tojo) Medicago/Teline tipo (giestas, tojos?) Cistaceae Cistus ladanifer L. (esteva) Cistus albidus tipo (roselhas, sargaços) Lista dos tipos carpológicos identificados: Cereais: Gramineae Triticum (trigo) Hordeum (cevada) Legumes: Leguminosae Vicia faba L. var. minuta (Alef.) Mansf. (fava) Cicer arietinum L. (grão-de-bico) Outros frutos e sementes: Pinaceae Pinus pinea L. (pinheiro manso) -pinhões e escamas de pinhas Fagaceae Quercus sp. (carvalho sensu lato) -fragmentos de bolotas Vitaceae Vitis (videira) Polygonaceae Polygonum aviculare L. (corriola bastarda)

Na descrição do território eco-produtivo de Santa Clara-a-Velha, nos sécs. XIV a XVII, utilizamos... more Na descrição do território eco-produtivo de Santa Clara-a-Velha, nos sécs. XIV a XVII, utilizamos os conceitos teóricos para a caracterização do Território Antigo desenvolvidos por Mateus (1990;.

Este relatório apresenta os resultados preliminares dos trabalhos arqueológicos desenvolvidos no ... more Este relatório apresenta os resultados preliminares dos trabalhos arqueológicos desenvolvidos no Vale da Ribeira das Chitas, no âmbito das obras de instalação do saneamento básico na área. Finalizadas as 60 sondagens propostas torna-se necessário realizar uma caracterização sumária do vale e sublinhar uma série de medidas de minimização de forma a atenuar o impacto causado pelos futuros trabalhos, de modo a que estes possam decorrer com a maior brevidade possível.

This methodology is now published as Supporting Information in Wilkins et al., 2017, Lithic techn... more This methodology is now published as Supporting Information in Wilkins et al., 2017, Lithic technological responses to Late Pleistocene glacial cycling at Pinnacle Point Site 5-6, South Africa. Plos One. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0174051

The choice of a raw material source with better knapping abilities can make a drastic difference ... more The choice of a raw material source with better knapping abilities can make a drastic difference on the outcome of that production. Recently, a variety of analytical methods have been applied to characterize the raw materials from archaeological contexts. However, their quality is an issue still little explored and, when it is, it is usually by subjective ways. The aim of our ongoing investigation is to systematically test geologic chert samples in order to recognize variation in their mechanical properties and, ultimately, putt quality into numbers. The data will allow us to understand, for instance, possible discreet variation between geological formations within a same region. To reach our objectives we used the rebound value taken with a Schmidt Hammer. This method allows evaluating the uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus of the rock. Our preliminary results are very promising by showing, for instance, considerable rebound values from differences chert sources. This might be related with features such as tectonic fracture of the nodules or different degrees in silicification.

Citar como: Valente, MJ; Bicho, N; Bernardes, J.; Carvalho, A.F.; Pereira, T. 2016. Arqueologia n... more Citar como: Valente, MJ; Bicho, N; Bernardes, J.; Carvalho, A.F.; Pereira, T. 2016. Arqueologia na Universidade do Algarve. Apresentação à Sessão «Arqueologia – Universidades e Ensino em números e em gráficos», Ciclo de Encontros «Discutir Arqueologia» (9 abril 2016). Lisboa: Associação dos Arqueólogos Portugueses.

Tumuli and Megaliths in Eurasia, 2024

Artefacts usually collected from funerary contexts of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods are ... more Artefacts usually collected from funerary contexts of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods are almost exclusively related to the depositions of human remains, but occasionally there are reports of some peculiar ones. The most common of these are usually macrolithic stone tools that are considered exogenous, related to older occupations of the vicinity, and incorporated into the site as part of the material used during the construction of the monuments. Along with these, it is not unusual to find coeval artefacts related to grinding activities. During the Proença-a-Nova field school, the excavations performed in Cimo do Vale de Alvito and Cabeço da Anta dolmens revealed the presence of large quantities of certain peculiar artefacts that fit into neither of these categories. Despite presenting some diversity in size and shape, they share common traits that include always being made of greywacke and having broadly consistent morphologies, localized shaping by knapping that gives them some ergonomics and clear macroscopic use-wear marks consistently located on the base and the sides of the bit edge. This gives these tools a broadly similar appearance with a gripping and a use area and designs that resemble cricket bats, hand shovels or stirrers, with a handle and a bit edge. Combining morphological, ergonomic and macroscopic use-wear approaches allows a parsimonious interpretation of these tool functions linked to activities related to the construction of the monuments. At Cabeço da Anta dolmen, we systematically collected these artefacts from a 14 x 1 m trench that cuts through the mound, between the camera and the periphery, in the southwest-northeast direction. Keywords: Stone tools, atypical, construction material, dolmens, Portugal.

Tumuli and Megaliths in Eurasia, 2024

Artefacts usually collected from funerary contexts of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods are ... more Artefacts usually collected from funerary contexts of the Neolithic and
Chalcolithic periods are almost exclusively related to the depositions of
human remains, but occasionally there are reports of some peculiar ones.
The most common of these are usually macrolithic stone tools that are
considered exogenous, related to older occupations of the vicinity, and
incorporated into the site as part of the material used during the construction
of the monuments. Along with these, it is not unusual to find coeval artefacts
related to grinding activities.
During the Proença-a-Nova field school, the excavations performed in
Cimo do Vale de Alvito and Cabeço da Anta dolmens revealed the presence
of large quantities of certain peculiar artefacts that fit into neither of these
categories. Despite presenting some diversity in size and shape, they share
common traits that include always being made of greywacke and having
broadly consistent morphologies, localized shaping by knapping that gives
them some ergonomics and clear macroscopic use-wear marks consistently
located on the base and the sides of the bit edge. This gives these tools a
broadly similar appearance with a gripping and a use area and designs that
resemble cricket bats, hand shovels or stirrers, with a handle and a bit edge.
Combining morphological, ergonomic and macroscopic use-wear
approaches allows a parsimonious interpretation of these tool functions
linked to activities related to the construction of the monuments. At Cabeço
da Anta dolmen, we systematically collected these artefacts from a 14 x 1
m trench that cuts through the mound, between the camera and the
periphery, in the southwest-northeast direction.

Tumuli and Megaliths in Eurasia, 2024

1. Tumuli and Megaliths in Eurasia: two archaeological typologies, partially convergent, and a br... more 1. Tumuli and Megaliths in Eurasia: two archaeological typologies, partially convergent, and a broad geographical space are the references of this book and of the Congress that preceded it. The term megalith is conventionally applied to funerary or non-funerary structures, but rituals, dating back to the Neolithic, have worldwide expression, from Portugal to Korea and from Sweden to Indonesia. These structures are highly representative in Western Europe and different regions of Asia, but with a very asymmetrical distribution. However, if we prefer a broader approach of the concept, more focused on morphological aspects and less on antiquity and regional specificities, the geographic and chronological reach of this concept is extended to other continents and expanded in diachrony, including many ancient sanctuaries. Göbekli Tepe (Türkiye), as supported by the Megalithic Routes association. “Tumuli” is ...

Tumuli and Megaliths in Eurasia, 2024

Artefacts usually collected from funerary contexts of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods are ... more Artefacts usually collected from funerary contexts of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods are almost exclusively related to the depositions of human remains, but occasionally there are reports of some peculiar ones. The most common of these are usually macrolithic stone tools that are considered exogenous, related to older occupations of the vicinity, and incorporated into the site as part of the material used during the construction of the monuments. Along with these, it is not unusual to find coeval artefacts related to grinding activities. During the Proença-a-Nova field school, the excavations performed in Cimo do Vale de Alvito and Cabeço da Anta dolmens revealed the presence of large quantities of certain peculiar artefacts that fit into neither of these categories. Despite presenting some diversity in size and shape, they share common traits that include always being made of greywacke and having broadly consistent morphologies, localized shaping by knapping that gives them some ergonomics and clear macroscopic use-wear marks consistently located on the base and the sides of the bit edge. This gives these tools a broadly similar appearance with a gripping and a use area and designs that resemble cricket bats, hand shovels or stirrers, with a handle and a bit edge. Combining morphological, ergonomic and macroscopic use-wear approaches allows a parsimonious interpretation of these tool functions linked to activities related to the construction of the monuments. At Cabeço da Anta dolmen, we systematically collected these artefacts from a 14 x 1 m trench that cuts through the mound, between the camera and the periphery, in the southwest-northeast direction.
Keywords: Stone tools, atypical, construction material, dolmens, Portugal.

The project EcoPLis––Human Occupations in the Pleistocene Ecotones of the River Lis––started in c... more The project EcoPLis––Human Occupations in the Pleistocene Ecotones of the River Lis––started in central Portugal in 2015. It aims to understand the behavioural ecology of hominins during the Pleistocene in a region where sub-rectilinear rivers link the coast to the inland mountains through open riverine and canyon environments. This project is rooted in Leiria’s mapping project––CARQLEI––managed by the City Council that has been mapping archaeological sites and off-sites since 2004, including some identified by Cultural Resource Management projects.
One of the most important aims of EcoPLis is the systematic recording and spatial analysis of raw material sources. The Lis basin has a large diversity of rocks suitable for knapping and multiple sources of these materials can be found both in primary and secondary sources. Although rocks are readily available, some materials were selectively sourced and used in the production of stone tools, e.g. chert, quartzite and quartz. The last two are allochthonous, showing great diversity and are highly abundant in river and marine gravels. On the other hand, chert is autochthonous, and it can thus be obtained from secondary and subprimary positions, and extracted from primary outcrops that are considerably limited in space, such as those of the Ribeira das Chitas valley.
In this paper we present a tentative map of raw material types and availability in the Lis basin and a preliminary geochemical analysis of chert specimens collected in primary, sub-primary and secondary positions. Our goal is to set a framework for the future investigation of raw material provenance relative to the excavated sites, including a provisional geochemical characterization of the main sources.

Keywords: EcoPLis, Raw material diversity, Central Portugal.

We are accepting applications from people interested in participating in the Proença-a-Nova Inter... more We are accepting applications from people interested in participating in the Proença-a-Nova International Archaeological Field Camp (CAPN), over 18 years of age.
CAPN was created in order to investigate the archaeological sites of Proença-a-Nova, a municipality located in Central Portugal, and hopes to attract a broad international participation.
CAPN activities will include excavation at five different archaeological sites (a megalithic grave, a protohistoric hillfort, a modern military battery and), lectures, lactures and study trips in the region.
CAPN is organized by the Upper Tagus Study Association and by the Municipality of Proença-a-Nova with the support of the Portuguese University of Coimbra, University of Évora, University of Porto and University of Algarve, the Spanish University of Alcalá de Henares, research centres like Hercules Laboratory, Centre for History of Art and Artistic Research, Earth Sciences Institute, the Transdisciplinary Center for Archeology (Polytechnic Institute of Tomar), the Geopark Naturtejo, the Archaeological Research Office of Military Engineering (Portuguese Army) and several companies.
Soon more information at: http://archaeologicalfieldcamps-portugal.pt/index.html

We are accepting applications from people interested in participating in the Proença-a-Nova Inter... more We are accepting applications from people interested in participating in the Proença-a-Nova International Archaeological Field Camp (CAPN), over 18 years of age.
CAPN was created in order to investigate the archaeological sites of Proença-a-Nova, a municipality located in Central Portugal, and hopes to attract a broad international participation.
CAPN activities will include excavation at five different archaeological sites (a megalithic grave, a protohistoric hillfort, a modern military battery and a modern fossil path), lectures, colloquium and a study trip in the region.
CAPN is organized by the Upper Tagus Study Association and by the Municipality of Proença-a-Nova with the support of the Portuguese University of Coimbra, University of Évora, University of Porto and University of Algarve, the Spanish University of Alcalá de Henares, research centres like Hercules Laboratory, Centre for History of Art and Artistic Research, Earth Sciences Institute, the Transdisciplinary Center for Archeology (Polytechnic Institute of Tomar), the Geopark Naturtejo, the Archaeological Research Office of Military Engineering (Portuguese Army) and several companies.
More information: http://archaeologicalfieldcamps-portugal.pt/index.html

There are multiple hypotheses for human responses to glacial cycling in the Late Pleisto-cene, in... more There are multiple hypotheses for human responses to glacial cycling in the Late Pleisto-cene, including changes in population size, interconnectedness, and mobility. Lithic technological analysis informs us of human responses to environmental change because lithic assemblage characteristics are a reflection of raw material transport, reduction, and discard behaviors that depend on hunter-gatherer social and economic decisions. Pinnacle Point Site 5–6 (PP5-6), Western Cape, South Africa is an ideal locality for examining the influence of glacial cycling on early modern human behaviors because it preserves a long sequence spanning marine isotope stages (MIS) 5, 4, and 3 and is associated with robust records of paleoenvironmental change. The analysis presented here addresses the question, what, if any, lithic assemblage traits at PP5-6 represent changing behavioral responses to the MIS 5-4-3 interglacial-glacial cycle? It statistically evaluates changes in 93 traits with no a priori assumptions about which traits may significantly associate with MIS. In contrast to other studies that claim that there is little relationship between broad-scale patterns of climate change and lithic technology, we identified the following characteristics that are associated with MIS 4: increased use of quartz, increased evidence for outcrop sources of quartzite and silcrete, increased evidence for earlier stages of reduction in silcrete, evidence for increased flaking efficiency in all raw material types, and changes in tool types and function for silcrete. Based on these results, we suggest that foragers responded to MIS 4 glacial environmental conditions at PP5-6 with increased population or group sizes, 'place provisioning', longer and/or more intense site occupations, and decreased residential mobility. Several other traits, including silcrete frequency, do not exhibit an association with MIS. Backed pieces, once they appear in the PP5-6 record during MIS 4, persist through MIS 3. Changing paleoenviron-ments explain some, but not all temporal technological variability at PP5-6.

Pereira, T., Wilkins, J., Brown, K. S., Oestmo, S., Ranhorn, K., Schoville, B. J., Marean, C. W. Pinnacle Point 5-6: Human ecodynamics in South Africa between 90 and 51ka. In: EAA Glasgow 2015 abstracts, 21st Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologist, September 2-5.

Recent research in South Africa has been refining the boundaries of the Middle Stone Age techno-c... more Recent research in South Africa has been refining the boundaries of the Middle Stone Age techno-complexes and showing a
greater diversity and complexity within each of them, often hard to justify as only related to site-function. The growth of
multidisciplinary data suggests that this complexity can be due to local evolutionary ecological, economic and social adaptations
to climatic shifts, changes in the landscape and resource availability.
Pinnacle Point 5-6 is located on the shore of the southern coast of South Africa, but due to morphology of the continental
platform, it was adjacent to an expansive plain during glacial periods. Its location resulted in continuous transformations of the
landscape, ecological niches, and availability of resources. Nevertheless, technological adaptations, such as the use of diverse
lithic raw materials, was resilient through ~40 thousand years. Some technological adaptations exhibit continuity through time,
whereas others change in response to paleoenvironmental fluctuations.
Thus, Pinnacle Point 5-6 has the perfect conditions for relating continuous change in local ecological settings with both
conservative and innovative technological choices, by presenting a dataset congruent with dynamic adaptive processes based
on learning with continuity instead of the collapse of a strategy and replacement by a different one as happened in Europe
during the Middle to the Upper Paleolithic transition.

Tumuli and Megaliths in Eurasia, 2024

Book with texts related to the international congress Tumuli and Megaliths in Eurasia edited by C... more Book with texts related to the international congress Tumuli and Megaliths in Eurasia edited by Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
https://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-0364-0749-0/

Pensando el Gravetiense: nuevos datos para la región cantábrica en su contexto peninsular y pirenaico. Monografías del Museo Nacional y Centro de Investigación de Altamira, nº 23. Madrid, Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte. , 2012

This collection presents state-of-the-art approaches to the use of inorganic raw materials in the... more This collection presents state-of-the-art approaches to the use of inorganic raw materials in the period known as prehistory. It focuses on stone-tools, adornments, colorants and pottery from Europe, America and Africa. The chapters intimately merge archaeology, anthropology, geology, geography, physics and chemistry to reconstruct past human behaviour, economy, technology, ecology, cognition, territory and social complexity. The book represents a framework of raw material investigation for those working in science, regardless of the time period, region of the world or materials they are studying.