Recent prehistoric and protohistoric territories and spaces in Eastern Trás-os-Montes and the Upper Douro region » CEAUCP

Prehistoric Territories and Spaces

Main Researcher

Researchers in the Group (Ph.D. Only)

Other Researchers in the Group (non Ph.D.)

Alexandra Maria Ferreira Vieira
Ana Margarida Aparicio do Vale
António Alberto Huet de Bacelar Gonçalves
Dulcineia Candida Bernardo Pinto
Joana Isabel Alves Ferreira
Leandro Surya Carvalho de Oliveira Silva
Pedro Rafael Quinteiros Morais
Sergio Alexandre da Rocha Gomes
Susana Andreia Batista de Almeida Nunes

Objectives and Achievements

General Objectives

The first objective was to acquire knowledge of the physical, humanised space in three geographical areas within the Trás-os-Montes and Beira areas from a long-term perspective (from the start of the Holocene to the start of the Christian era). Within this objective, the intention was to understand whether changes in landscape were due to climatic or human factors or a combination of both, given that this was the period in which agro-pastoral practices began to emerge as determining factors in the alteration of ecosystems.

The second objective was to investigate and understand the methods for designing the territory and more restricted areas within it. This brought together the concepts and world view of territory held by the communities of the past and their traditions and innovations, namely «design and construction methods and methods of manufacturing artefacts, marking the land with various "signs" (constructs and engraved and/or painted images), etc.

As a third objective, the circulation of various "objects", artefacts and/or raw materials forms part of an understanding of the conceptualisation of territory as a space in which raw materials could be obtained, goods and symbols circulated and social contacts forged with other communities.

Main Achievements

Research has enabled us to conclude that the territory around the Foz Côa area was occupied continuously (from the perspective of time) between the Epipaleolithic/Mesolithic (10000 BP; 11500 cal BP; 9500 BC) and the early Neolithic (from c. 5500 BC). In the two Trás-os-Montes and Upper Douro regions that were studied, Foz Côa and Murça/Mirandela, although changes in ecosystems due to human actions began in the 6th. millennium BC, they only emerged clearly from the 4th. millennium onwards as a result of agricultural and pastoral practices and the links gradually formed with the land as investment. ««In fact, from this period onwards until the start of the Christian era, it is possible to glimpse general outlines of land use which are characteristic of sub-Mediterranean ecosystems, although a more specific classification of the different indigenous societies is necessary, given that the specific features of social and cultural behaviour are closely connected to their political organisation. Investment, in this context is understood to mean the combination of socio-economic practices as such, as well as social, ceremonial and political investment. Thus the configuration of territories and spaces is defined in the 4th. millennium by the construction of megalithic monuments according to regional traditions and the "marking" of territory with various images, the specific features of which still need to be interpreted. Radiometric dating and architectural studies of the land, stone and wood have enabled us to begin to understand how the methods used by communities between the start of the 3rd. and the end of the 2nd. millennium for creating and generating local power through mega-constructions (Castelo Velho and Castanheiro do Vento in the Foz Côa area and Crasto de Palheiros in Murça), requiring huge efforts to build and maintain during the approximately 2 millennia of their "active" existence, diversified.

Productivity

International publications

-FIGUEIRAL, Isabel, SANCHES, Maria de Jesus, “Eastern Trás-os-Montes (NE Portugal) from the late Prehistory to the Iron age: the land and the people”, In The Mediterranean World, Environment and History, Paris, pp. 315-329, 2003.

-JORGE, Susana Oliveira et al. Preliminary considerations on forms of spatial organisation and construction techniques in late prehistoric sites (Chalcolithic/Bronze Age) of the type of Castelo Velho and Castanheiro do Vento (Bila Nova de Foz Côa) – resemblances and differences in comparison with megalithic and similar constructions, Journal of Iberian Archaeology, 7, 2005, pp. 101-124, 2005.

JORGE, Susana Oliveira “Pensar o espaço da Pré-história Recente: a propósito dos recintos murados da Península Ibérica”, Recintos Murados da Pré-história Recente, Porto-Coimbra, DCTP/FLUP-CEAUCP, 2003, pp. 13-50.

-JORGE, Vitor O.(Em colaboração com João Muralha, Gonçalo Leite Velho, Ana Vale e Leonor Sousa Pereira) “Copper Age «monumentalized hills» of Iberia: the shift from positivistic ideas to interpretative ones. New perspectives on old techniques of transforming place and space as results of a research experience in the NE of Portugal in Approching «Prehistoric and Protohistoric Architectures» of Europe from a «Dwelling Perspective»”. Journal of Iberian Archaeology, vol.8, special issue. Porto: ADECAP, pp. 203-264, 2006.

-JORGE, Vitor O. “Castanheiro do Vento, a late prehistoric enclosure in the Foz Côa region, Portugal - recent research (1998-2002) (de colab.), Journal of Iberian Archaeology, Porto, vol. 5, pp. 137 - 161, 2003.

-LÒPEZ SAENZ, J. A.; Monteiro-Rodrigues, S. & López Merino, L. La transición Mesolítico-Neolítico desde una perspectiva paleoambiental: Análisis palinológico del sitio de Prazo (Freixo de Numão, Portugal), Portugalia, Nova Série, Vol. XXVII, Porto, DCTP-Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto, 2006.

-SANCHES, Maria de Jesus, " Passage-graves of NW Iberia ¬: setting and movements. An approach to the relationship between architecture and iconography". Journal of Iberian Archaeology, 8, special issue: Approaching "Prehistoricand Protohistoric Architectures" of Western Europe from a "Dwelling Perspective", Vitor O. Jorge, João Muralha, Ana M. Vale, Gonçalo L. Velho e Leonor S. Pereira, eds., ADECAP, Porto, pp.126-158.2006

-SANCHES, Maria de Jesus, “Crasto de Palheiros-Murça ( Northern Portugal). Considerations on the study and interpretation of a prehistoric mega-construction”, In Journal of Iberian Archaeology, 6, ADECAP, pp. 117-145, 2004.

Master and Ph.D. thesis completed

Master Thesis

a) -NUNES, Susana A., Monumentos sob tumulus e meio físico no território entre o Corgo e o Tua (Trás-os-Montes): aproximação à questão. Este trabalho propôs um modelo ocupação do território durante o 4º mil. na região transmontana de entre os rios Corgo e Tua através do registo e estudo das construções megalíticas e da alguns locais residenciais. Lançou o programa de investigação a ser aprofundado e desenvolvido pelo actual grupo de investigação que também integra.

b) -OLIVEIRA, Maria L.C. Primeiras intervenções Arquitectónicas no Castelo Velho de Freixo de Numão ( V.N. Foz Côa); - BAPTISTA, Lidia (2003), A cerâmica do interior do recinto de Castelo Velho de Freixo de Numão. Contributos para a interpretação de contextos de uso. Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada à Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto, Porto. (policopiada).; - GOMES, Sergio Contributos para o estudo dos "pesos de tear" de Castelo Velho de Freixo deNumão (VN de Foz Côa). Exercícios de Interpretação do Registo Arqueológico. Estas 3 dissertações sobre a estação do Castelo Velho dão conta de aspectos pertinentes da investigação nesta região. A de Lurdes Oliveira incide na identificação e caracterização das ocupações mais antigas , articulando o inicio do “programa construtivo” em cada área com a natureza social e material das acções humanas que aí tiveram lugar. Em conjunto coma tese de Lídia Baptista , define-se o carácter “material/deposicional” do sítio pois os “artefactos “ aparecem ora intencionalmente aprisionados em estruturas , ou espalhados pelos sedimentos, mesmo que reduzidos a fragmentos, ora evidenciam acções concretas, mais fáceis de identificar, como armazenamento, consumo, etc. De certo modo a Dissertação de Ana Vale (ver de seguida) chega a conclusões similares sobre Castanheiro do Vento, o que é revelador das semelhanças da natureza da ocupação destes dois sítios geograficamente vizinhos. A dissertação de Sérgio Gomes discute os problemas da interpretação funcionalista tradicionalmente atribuída aos artefactos identificados como “pesos se tear” e propõe uma interpretação específica para Castelo Velho onde articula a presença destes artefactos com a compreensão do uso dos espaços internos deste sítio.

c) VALE, Ana M. . Castanheiro do Vento (Horta do Douro, Vila Nova de Foz Côa). Contributo para o estudo dos resultados das primeiras campanhas de trabalhos (1998-2000).

Organization of conferences

Joint organisation : XV Congress da UISPP (UIPPS Congress), Lisboa, 4 a 10 de Setembro, 2006 (V.O.Jorge was the Presidente)

Sections in International Congresses :

-"Formas de organização do espaço e técnicas de construção durante a Pré-história Recente (Neolítico Médio/Final - Bronze Final), IV Congresso Peninsular de Arqueologia, Faro Set. 2006; (Susana O. Jorge was leader)

"The creation of “significant places” and “landscapes” in the Northwestern half of the Iberia, during Pre and Proto-historic times. Theoretical, recording and interpretation issues from case studies in this region” . M J. Sanches with Ramón Fabregas da Univ. de Santiago de Compostela was leaders

Section in TAG- (Theoretical Archaeology Group Conference), 2005- 19-21 December - Univ. of Sheffield, UK, named “Approaching «Prehistoric and Protohistoric Architectures» of Europe from a «Dwelling Perspective»”; Vitor Oliveira Jorge's organization

Section in TAG- (Theoretical Archaeology Group Conference), 2006 – 15-17 December, Joint collaboration with Julian Thomas Univ. of Manchester named “ Overcoming the modern invention of material culture.

“A Encenação do Passado” (“La Mise en Scène du Passé”) , Porto , ( Teatro Rivoli), 12 e 13 de November, V.O. Jorge's organization joint collaboration with Profs. Marc Augé, Jean-Paul Collyen (EHESS, Paris), Jorge Freitas Branco, Manuel João Ramos, António Medeiros (ISCTE) e a Dra. Isabel Alves Costa.

Future Research

Objectives

An understanding of the dynamics of the inhabited landscape of the Portuguese Douro basin between the 7th. millennium BC and the start of the Christian era. Landscape is understood as the locus of human actions, shaped by natural and conceptual territories and endowed with places and routes in which deliberate community actions are inscribed. This means that landscape is of interest as inhabited territory in which identities are inscribed and transformed, since the emphasis is on human actions. A long-term diachronic perspective is essential to an understanding and evaluation of the parameters that have been established and which encompass our objectives.

1- An assessment of the significance of the history/genealogy of the different human groups from the Mesolithic/Neolithic to the Iron Age and the way in which this is reflected in social organisation and the emergence of different "political powers"; (formalisations of power). Great importance has been placed on the study of the different "social formations" that emerged and developed in this region, through the combination of archaeological and paleo-environmental remains and a comparison of the social behaviour of these groups with other better-known groups in anthropology.

2- Political and territorial organisation will be based on studies of territorial organisation. Within this area, archaeological sites have been found in which the most visible formal representations of power are reflected in the creation and maintenance of certain enduring types of architecture. A specific study of their models of design and use will form part of the research programme, responding to the question of the characterisation of political and territorial organisation. Therefore the study, involving excavation, of the Castanheiro do Vento (V.N. Foz Côa) and Crasto de Palheiros (Murça) sites, will be essential to the research programme.

3- Within this territory, the differing values ascribed to certain areas i.e. their hierarchy, is taken as the starting point for establishing comparisons with other present or past societies. In this way we will seek to assess, both synchronically and diachronically, the degree of relative importance and complementarity of sites which are physically marked in different ways, through monuments, settlements, rock engravings etc. In assessing this, we will seek to identify in greater detail the physical (ecological) capacity of the ecosystems in terms of the sustainability of different productive activities (identification of resources and their uses) and the extent to which the areas in which the various resources identified were of greater or lesser symbolic importance within the territorial hierarchy.

4- The study of artefacts (their forms, origins, uses, circulation and removal or abandonment) completes, to a certain extent, the study of the architecture, since both lead to a better understanding of the permeability of the different groups to innovation resulting from relations with other communities

Previous publications in the area

-JORGE, Susana Oliveira (Coord.), Recintos Murados da Pré-história Recente, Porto-Coimbra, DCTP/FLUP-CEAUCP, 2003

-JORGE, Susana Oliveira, O Passado é Redondo. Dialogando com os Sentidos dos Primeiros Recintos Monumentais, Porto, Ed. Afrontamento, 2004.

- SANCHES, Maria de Jesus; Nunes, Susana A. (2005 ), Monumentos pétreos do 4º e 3º mil. BC: suas formas, topografias e contextos na área central de Trás-os-Montes (Nordeste de Portugal), Revista da Faculdade de Letras- Ciências e Técnicas do Património, I série, 4, Porto, pp. 53−82.

<< voltar aos Grupos