Keyword(s) Archaeology Environment, Historical and Cultural Landscapes, Territorial cohesion and identity

General description of the Research Group

In the 2025-2029 cycle, the RG intends to develop a diverse range of activities, namely around the following topics:

1. Databases and Cartographies – The group intends to create various open access databases focusing on different chronologies, from a long-term perspective and with a geographical focus in the Douro valley and North Portugal. These databases include the walled enclosures of recent prehistory, Pre and Protohistoric rock art (engravings and paintings), the Romanization of the Douro Valley, and an ambitious project to inventory and map the medieval heritage of northern Portugal and the Douro Valley. In line with the growing interest in the environment, a Historical Atlas of the Portuguese Forest will also be created.
2. Communities and economies of the Atlantic coast – following research already underway and in line with the theme proposed for the 2025-29 cycle, the focus will be on lagoon areas (Ria de Aveiro), salt production and economic and commercial relations with other Atlantic ports.
3. History of the Landscape and the Environment – In line with the new group designation, attention will be paid to studies related to the environment, particularly forestry, the formation of rural landscapes (namely in the Serra da Cabreira/Alto Barroso) and the role of the olive tree in the Douro landscape, not forgetting the role of the vine in the formation of this unique landscape, a World Heritage Site.
4. Archaeological excavations – as this RG is, in CITCEM, the one that brings together archaeologists, it will obviously be involved in different archaeological projects, such as Guifões, Alvarelhos, Trás do Castelo/Pegarinhos, Serra de Passos, Penafiel (Termas de S. Vicente) and Esposende. All these excavations will have a dimension of collecting and analysing eco-facts, for the characterization of ancient landscapes and the environment.