Keywords Environmental Archaeology, Historical and Cultural Landscapes, Territorial Cohesion and Identity

In the 2025-2029 cycle, the GP intends to develop a diversified set of activities, namely around the following themes:

1. Databases and Cartographies – The group intends to create several open-access databases focused on different chronologies, from a long-term perspective and with a geographical focus on the Douro Valley and Northern 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 on from the 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 trade relations with other countries. Atlantic ports.

3. History of the Landscape and the Environment – In line with the group’s new name, attention will be paid to studies related to the environment, namely 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, without forgetting the role of the vine in the formation of this unique landscape, a World Heritage Site.

4. Archaeological excavations – as this RG at CITCEM is 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 analyzing ecofacts, to characterize ancient landscapes and the environment.