Excavations at the prehistoric site of

Excavations at the prehistoric site of

CASTANHEIRO DO VENTO – VILA NOVA DE FOZ CÔA

Northeast PORTUGAL in JULY 2007

Introduction – place, investigations, involved people and institutions

Surrounded by a diverse and significant number of archaeological sites (see: http://www.cm-fozcoa.pt/php/turismo), which notably includes the Palaeolithic open air engravings of the Côa River Valley (UNESCO Heritage Site), is situated the site of CASTANHEIRO DO VENTO (“chestnut tree”) in the middle of the internationally renowned wine region of the Douro Valley, where, among others, Porto wine is produced.

Castanheiro do Vento has a complex stone architecture and was built from the Chalcolithic to the Bronze Age. This kind of architecture is, in particular, characteristic for the Iberian Peninsula and Southern France, and has been the object of investigations by several archaeological schools over a number of years.

By 1990, one group of Portuguese archaeologists from the University of Porto (see: http://architectures.home.sapo.pt/) and the Cultural Association (ACDR) of Freixo de Numão (see: http://www.acdr-freixo.pt) reawakened interest in this matter by introducing different field methods and the manner in which data coming from the digs was interpreted. The problematic of the complex stone architecture dating from the third to second millennium BC, however, is far from conclusive in its interpretation. This group of archaeologists has entered into an ongoing dialogue with many other researchers around the world, comparing this regional investigation with European prehistoric architecture within an international network. Today Castanheiro do Vento is one of the most important sites in Iberia and throughout Western Europe for the study of this theme.

Since 1998, the excavations at CASTANHEIRO DO VENTO has taken place in a very friendly and open-minded working climate. This work will continue next summer from July 1^st to 28^th 2007. We are looking for volunteers and we accept any person with real motivation and an interest in archaeology regardless of their level of experience or specialization.

REGISTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Conditions to participate:

- you need to be at least 18 years old

- you need to be able to work as part of a team

- complete and send the application form with a brief curriculum vitae to: mailto:ana.m.vale@gmail.com (see above)

- the application form must be accept by the directors of the excavation. These include: Prof. Vítor Oliveira Jorge and PhD students João Muralha Cardoso, Ana Margarida Vale and Gonçalo Leite Velho (all from University of Porto)

Kind of work:

Open air excavation located on a hilltop which is easy accessible (we just have a small house to keep working tools there)

- small teams are needed to work in a rotation system with material in the local museum of Freixo de Numão: to wash, to mark, to store information about previously recovered artefacts, etc.

Daily timetable from Monday to Friday (Saturdays and Sundays are off):

- 8 h - breakfast at Freixo

- 9–13 h – morning work time

- 13-15 h – lunch (hot meal served in Freixo)

- 15:30–18 h – afternoon work time

The participants should bring:

- clothes for all kinds of weather, including rain clothes

- bag, camping bottle and suncream

- sleeping bag

Logistic services furnished by the local association ACDR

- accommodation in common bedrooms with showers (don't forget the sleeping bag!)

- three daily hot meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner in the ACDR canteen). Note: breakfast on Sundays is not included!

- transport from the railway station of Freixo (trains come from São. Bento railway station in Porto) to and from the accommodation house on the arrival and departure days (c. 13 km). Note: Each participant shall arrive on the Sunday evening before the first working day and leave in the morning of Saturday following the last work day.

Each participant can count on:

- potable mineral water in individual bottles

- transport from the village of Freixo de Numão to the excavation and back

- facilities to wash clothes in the washing machine

- training in fieldwork (excavation and connected tasks) and in the analysis of artefacts

- lectures using power point presentations about the work carried out – 1 hour per week after dinner – free open debates, etc.

- availability to debate and to explain the methodology, including topography, recording, drawing, etc,

- certificate of the work done

- visit to the Museum of Casa Grande and to the archaeological sites of Castelo Velho de Freixo de Numão (Copper Age) and Prazo (Neolithic, Roman, Mediaeval)

- booklet about archaeological circuits of the region (see: http://www.cm-fozcoa.pt/php/turismo and http://www.acdr-freixo.pt)

- organization of a visit ( entrance price is not included) to the Palaeolithic open air engravings of the Côa River Valley: world famous – UNESCO Heritage Site (prior registration is required)

Periods of participation and costs (to pay at arrival to the local association ACDR de Freixo de Numão – directed by archaeologist António Sá Coixão – phone/fax contact: 00-351-279-789573

- 1 week – from Sunday afternoon until next Saturday morning – 200 € – 140 £ – $ 236

- 2 weeks (2 first ones or 2 last ones) – 400 € – 280 £ – $ 472

- 4 weeks – 800 € – 560 £ – $ 944 (prices include insurance)

Languages spoken by the main team:

- Portuguese, English, French, Spanish and German

Application Form

(Please send your application with a brief curriculum vitae to: mailto:ana.m.vale@gmail.com)

Personal Data:

Name: ________________________________________________________________

Address:

E-mail: _______________________________________________________________

Education:

Your motivation to participate in this excavation:

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