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Activity Funded

Centre for Archaeology - University of Lisbon

Centro de Arqueologia da Universidade de Lisboa (UNIARQ)

Reference
UIDP/00698/2020
Project Start Date
2020-01-01
Project End Date
2024-12-31
Principal Investigator
Funding Program
Concurso de avaliação no âmbito do Programa Plurianual de Financiamento de Unidades de I&D (2017/2018) - Financiamento Programático

Abstract

10.2 Summary in English for general dissemination purposes UNIARQ is a Research Centre of the School of Arts and Humanities (SAH) of the University of Lisbon (UL) dedicated to archaeological research. UNIARQ has 34 integrated PhD researchers, 18 without PhD (17 of which PhD students) and 37 collaborators, totalling 89 researchers (http://www.uniarq.net). Research is focused on the Iberian Peninsula, in the framework of global agendas covering themes from Lower Paleolithic to Late Antiquity/Middle Ages, constituting a reference in national and international scales. Our research topics are (i) Human Evolution, (ii) early occupation of the territory during the Pleistocene, (iii) Neanderthal presence and mechanisms underlying the appearance of Modern Humans, (iv) presence of the last hunter-gatherers, (v) the Neolithization process, (vi) development of agro-pastoral economies, (vii) symbolic dynamics and the megalithic funerary architectures, (viii) rhythms of social and technological complexification of the first agro-metallurgical societies, (ix) dynamics of the oriental presence and its interaction with the western Iberian Iron Age communities, (x) origins of ancient writing systems, (xi) construction of Lusitania within the Roman Empire, and (xii) transformations that characterized the Late Antiquity. UNIARQ aims to open new research fields on Historical Archaeology topics. Research areas are developed in the framework of specific projects by transdisciplinary teams, using methodologies in which Archaeosciences hold a significant role. Fieldwork - both excavations and surveys - spreading throughout the Iberian Peninsula and sites such as Almonda's Cave, Cueva Antón, Mesas do Castelinho and Monte Molião have been the object of long-term strategic projects. UNIARQ develops broad-range partnerships with other universities, labs and research centres, building a network for the production and circulation of knowledge with an international scope. In Portugal, the strategic partnership with the National Museum of Archaeology is a decisive instrument for our research and result in diffusion dynamics. UNIARQ, belonging to the SAH of the UL, is actively involved in all cycles of study in Archaeology, integrating students into ongoing research projects. UNIARQ's editorial work, in addition to monographs, also includes the Ophiussa journal, in both printed and digital form. Scientific production is presented in reference publications and meetings, both national and international, being available through the Open Access Repository of the UL (http://repositorio.ul.pt/handle/10451/8771). UNIARQ aims to further develop a proactive policy of knowledge dissemination visible in local impact of its research contributing to identity empowerment and sustainable development. Strengthening our critical mass by attracting young researchers, with better hosting conditions within a creative research environment is a major goal. 10.3 Summary in English for evaluation UNIARQ is a Research Unit of the School of Arts and Humanities (SAH) of the University of Lisbon (UL) formed by 34 integrated PhD researchers, 18 non-PhD researchers (including 17 PhD students) and 37 collaborators, totalling 89 researchers. UNIARQ has a longstanding research tradition traceable back to the 1970's, having since developed high-quality archaeological research sustainably enlarging its researcher team and research areas. The team consists of researchers and collaborators, along with national and international networks of knowledge in different but complementary areas such as Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Heritage Management. UNIARQ's researchers are committed to standards of excellence in Science, establishing global networks in the framework of international agendas, namely (i) human evolution focused mainly on Neanderthal-to-EMH transition, (ii) transition from hunter-gatherers to agro-pastoralist economies, (iii) pathways to social and symbolic complexity, (iv) the impact and reception of Oriental stimulus during the Iron Age, and v) the making and dissolution of Empires and long-distance trade. Relevant fieldwork done by UNIARQ in large and multidisciplinary teams includes both archaeological survey and excavations during large periods of the year, in different areas of the Iberia Peninsula. In surveys and excavations, the team uses transdisciplinary methodologies such as geoarchaeology, paleobotanics, zooarchaeology. The collected data is analyzed at UNIARQ lab, where the findings are processed and studied. Selected artefacts, ecofacts, sedimentary samples and human remains are sent to different Archaeoscience and Archaeometric labs. In addition UNIARQ researchers develop projects targeted at archaeological collections kept in museums - studying artefacts, human remains and records mainly at the NMA but also at other Iberian museums where UNIARQ researchers have planed short-term stays. Also the history and theory of archaeology are considered strategic areas of research. We discuss topics such as history of archaeology in Portugal against the backdrop of Western archaeology, gender archaeology, and public archaeology policies that guide the current processual/post-modern debate. Integration of the Côa Park group into UNIARQ also constitutes an outstanding opportunity for developing new research platforms at this UNESCO World Heritage sanctuary. UNIARQ outputs are a reference for Archaeology in Portugal and abroad. Papers and presentations of UNIARQ researchers can be found in peer-review journals and national and international conferences, available at the UL Open Access repository. UNIARQ is strongly committed to Portugal's global agenda on science and considers the internationalization of knowledge a priority. UNIARQ has a longstanding tradition of participation in international networks and partnership in both research projects and advanced training with other Universities and research units. Portuguese and English languages are used as a function of each audience. UNIARQ's fieldwork activities are strongly linked to local populations and municipalities and therefore Portuguese will always be a strategic tool to communicate archaeological knowledge under the paradigm of social responsibility of science. Part of UNIARQ's strategy consists in organizing or co-organizing conferences and workshops with national and foreign researchers invited to present and discuss their ongoing research. Key subject-matters are Paleolithic, Neolithic/Chalcolithic Art, Megalithism, Phoenicians and Punic studies, Ancient Writings, Roman Pottery Studies, Archaeology& Sustainable Tourism and History & Theory in Archaeology. UNIARQ's editions include monographic studies on archaeological sites, PhD dissertations and conference & workshop proceedings. UNIARQ also edits the yearly journal Ophiussa. In UNIARQ's view, archaeological heritage is a scientific resource and a powerful instrument to develop local identity, not only in urban areas characterized by massive geographic mobility but also in rural depopulated areas. Archaeological research can contribute to sustainable economic development by using "what is locally available", a principle underlying the close ties between UNIARQ and Local Administration. Cultural tourism activities, in which UNIARQ can actively participate, should be viewed as a critically important opportunity to develop. For our unit, promoting scientific culture is an ongoing task; UNIARQ researchers develop such actions and can participate in other initiatives promoted by public and private institutions. Our communication agenda includes Open Days held during archaeological fieldwork, "European Researchers' Night", the UNIARQ website, our Facebook page and UNIARQ's presence in other social networks. Special reference should be made to the organization of museum exhibitions, in particular at the NMA - our strategic partner- given their impact. We use different platforms to transfer knowledge (i) to undergraduate and graduate students, by training them at the SAH, (ii) to central and local administration, by assisting their process of decision-making on land-use planning and heritage management, and (iii) to private-owned companies, by helping their preventive archaeology actions through improvement of field and lab methodologies. Opening UNIARQ's Archives at an online platform is a critical objective. In order to fulfil this goal, we need to systematically digitalize the archaeological records (e.g. reports, photographs, databases, drawings and maps) that constitute UNIARQ's major contribution to Archaeological science. UNIARQ aims to further develop a proactive policy of knowledge dissemination visible in local impact of its research contributing to identity empowerment and sustainable development. Strengthening our critical mass by attracting young researchers, with better hosting conditions within a creative research environment is a major goal.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Universidade de Lisboa Centro de Arqueologia (UNIARQ)
  • Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Letras (ULISBOA FLUL)

Funding 446.500,00 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

446.500,00 €