On Tuesday 11th March, the Algarve Archaeological Association (AAA) will be presenting two lectures, in English, by Archaeologist Dra Lucy Shaw Evangelista.
The first lecture will be at 2.30pm at the Museu do Traje in São Bras de Alportel, the second lecture will be at 6pm at the Convento de São José in Lagoa.
In this presentation Archaeologist and Bioanthropologist Dra Lucy Shaw Evangelista will be talking to us about The Quinta dos Poços site, located in the municipality of Lagoa. The site was the focus of an archaeological investigation carried out by ERA Arqueologia during the development of a golf course by the Pestana Group which AAA members visited in 2023. This lecture will offer an engaging, non-technical exploration of the discoveries made at the site and their significance in understanding the prehistoric past of the region.
Through the combination of archaeological monitoring, geophysical surveys and excavations, researchers uncovered four ancient tombs, shedding light on burial practices from over 5,000 years ago. One of these tombs dates to the 3rd millennium BCE, while the remaining three are attributed to the Middle Neolithic (4th millennium BCE). In this talk Lucy will take us through a number of stages. Firstly, the discovery and excavation process describing how these ancient tombs were uncovered and recorded. She will describe the tomb architecture and burial customs, explaining what the structures and grave goods reveal about prehistoric beliefs. Lucy will explain the scientific dating methods employed and the findings, explaining how we determine the age of these burials and what they tell us about the past. She will put the site in its regional context, explaining how these discoveries fit into the broader picture of prehistoric Algarve. This session is designed for a general audience with an interest in history, archaeology and heritage. No prior knowledge is required, just a curiosity about the lives of those who walked this land thousands of years ago!
Dra Lucy Shaw Evangelista is an archaeologist and bioanthropologist, currently serving as the Head of the Bioanthropology Department at ERA Arqueologia, S.A.. She is also a researcher at the Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS) at the University of Coimbra and an associated researcher at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behaviour (ICArEHB) at the University of Algarve. She earned her degree and Master’s in Prehistoric Archaeology from the University of Porto (2004), followed by a PhD in Physical Anthropology from the University of Coimbra (2018). Her research focuses on funerary practices and burial architectures among Late Prehistoric Iberian societies. As Head of Bioanthropology, Lucy Evangelista has conducted extensive fieldwork across Portugal and Spain, working in archaeological contexts spanning all chronological periods, with particular expertise in prehistoric funerary rituals. She has led investigations at numerous sites, most notably the Peridigões Archaeological Enclosure in Reguengos de Monsaraz, Évora. She has authored several publications, including Resting in Peace or in Pieces? Tomb I and Death Management in the 3rd Millennium BC at the Perdigões Enclosure (Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal): Understanding Mortuary Practices and Collective Burials in Chalcolithic Portugal. Her expertise encompasses prehistory, bioarchaeology, excavation and physical anthropology.
Non-members are welcome to attend AAA lectures for a 5-euro admission fee, with all money raised by the AAA being used for archaeological grants and speakers.
For more information contact info.algarvearqueo@gmail.com (please note this new email address), visit arquealgarve.weebly.com or Facebook 'Algarve Archaeological Association'.
Please check the website or Facebook page for any last-minute changes.
