Conforme a revisão da cerâmica decorada avança, o Sol continua a nascer nos Perdigões, mesmo nos fragmentos cerâmicos mais pequenos / As the revision of decorated pottery advances, the Sun continues to rise at Perdigões, even in the smallest shards.
Excavations 2024
This is a temporary blog for presenting the excavations at Perdigões. Posts from 2011 to 2023 are available.
Tuesday, 29 December 2020
Monday, 28 December 2020
0462 - Holding... at Perdigões 17
Caçoila campaniforme (terceiro quartel do 3º milénio a.C. / Bell Beaker bowl (third quarter of the 3rd millennium BC)
Sunday, 13 December 2020
Sunday, 29 November 2020
0460 - Holding... at Perdigões 15
Taça carenada com representação solar incisa na base, pelo exterior. Uma situação pouco frequente, já que estas decorações em taças e pratos tendem a aparecer pelo lado interno. Proveniente da Fossa 80 (Hipogeu 2) dos Perdigões, num contexto do Neolítico Final. Publicada na monografia sobre os "Perdigões Neolíticos".
Carenated bowl with solar representation incised at the base, from the outside. An infrequent situation, as these decorations on bowls and plates tend to appear on the inside. From Pit 80 (Hypogeum 2) of Perdigões, in a context of the Late Neolithic. Published in the monograph on "Neolithic Perdigões".
Friday, 9 October 2020
0459 - Holding .. at Perdigões 14
Botão cilíndrico com perfuração em “v” em marfim, recolhido no Fosso 7 (terceiro quartel do 3º milénio A.C.). Um dos pouco objectos em marfim recolhidos fora de contextos funerários nos Perdigões. Na mão de uma estudante da Universidade de Bradford (Mai-Ly Dubreuil). Foto de 2014.
Cylindrical button in ivory with a “V” perforation, collected in Ditch 7 (third quarter of the 3rd millennium BC). One of the few ivory objects collected outside of funerary contexts in Perdigões. In the hands of a student at the University of Bradford (Mai-Ly Dubreuil). Photo from 2014.
Sunday, 4 October 2020
0458 - Holding... at Perdigões (13)
Lâmina de crista em sílex proveniente dos Perdigões. Ser uma lâmina de crista significa que foi uma das primeiras a ser extraída depois da preparação do núcleo para o processo de extracção, mantedo as marcas dessa preparação: uma série de levantamentos de um lado e do outro que lhe conferem esse aspecto de crista. Foi recolhida no Sepulcro 3 dos Perdigões, num depósito com mais de oito dezenas de grandes lâminas. Aqui nas mãos da A.C. Basílio. Trata-se de um objecto importado, tal com as suas companheiras.
Flint crest blade from Perdigões. Being a crest blade means that it was one of the first to be extracted after preparing the core for the extraction process, maintaining the marks of that preparation: a series of knaps on one side and on the other that give it that crest aspect. It was collected at Tomb 3 of Perdigões, in a deposit with more than eight tens large blades. Here in the hands of BC Basilio. It is an imported object, just like its companions.
Friday, 11 September 2020
0457 - Holding... at Perdigões (12)
Figura antropomórfica esquemática em osso, com representação dos olhos, sobrancelhas, com entalhes laterais evocando as tatuagens faciais. Recolhida nos contextos de deposições de cremações de restos humanos na área central dos Perdigões. Meados do 3º milénio a.C.. Foto de 2013. Actualmente integra a exposição Ídolos. Miradas Milenárias no Meseu Regional de Madrid em Alcalá de Henares.
Schematic anthropomorphic bone figure, with representation of the eyes, eyebrows, with side notches evoking facial tattoos. Collected in the context of depositions of cremations of human remains in the central area of Perdigões. Mid-3rd millennium BC. Photo from 2013. Currently part of the exhibition Ídolos. Millennial Views at Museu Regional de Madrid in Alcalá de Henares.
Monday, 7 September 2020
0456 - Holding... at Perdigões (11)
Fragmento queimado de presa de elefante proveniente dos contextos de cremações humanas no centro do Perdigões. A demosntração de que esta matéria prima, de proveniência africana (tanto quanto as análises nos dizem), chegava aos Perdigões, e não só objectos finalizados feitos em marfim. Nas mãos da Frankie Wildmun. Datado de meados do 3º milénio a.C.. Foto de 2013.
Burnt fragment of elephant tusk from the context of human cremations in the centre of Perdigões. The demonstration that this raw material, of African origin (as far as the analyses tell us), reached Perdigões, and not only finished objects made in ivory. In the hands of Frankie Wildmun. Dated mid-3rd millennium BC. Photo from 2013.
Saturday, 5 September 2020
0455 - Holding... at Perdigões (10)
Recipiente cerâmico recolhido no Sepulcro 1 dos Perdigões, com um osso humano e fragmento de xisto no interior, apresentado pelo Francisco Vogado, natural de Reguengos e residente na Caridade, povoação ao lado dos Perdigões. O recipiente data da primeira metade do 3º milénio a.C.. Foto de 1998.
Ceramic pot collected in Tomb 1 of Perdigões, with a human bone and schist fragment inside, presented by Francisco Vogado, a native of Reguengos and resident in Caridade, a village next to Perdigões. The pot dates from the first half of the 3rd millennium BC. Photo from 1998.
Wednesday, 2 September 2020
0454 - Holding... at Perdigões (9)
Figura oculada sobre osso: olhos raiados, sobrancelhas, tatuagens faciais e cabelos nas costas. Contexto das deposições de cremações humanas na área central dos Perdigões. Meados/terceiro quartel do 3º milénio a.C. Foto de 2020.
Occulated
figure on bone: streaked eyes, eyebrows, facial tattoos and hair on the back.
Context of depositions of human cremations in the central area of Perdigões.
Mid / third quarter of the 3rd millennium BC. Photo from 2020.
Saturday, 29 August 2020
0453 - Holding... at Perdigões (8)
Denticulado sobre sílex integrado (juntamente com outro) na deposição de um vaso troncocónico e uma alabarda de cobre na área central dos Perdigões. Está datado do terceiro quartel do 3º milénio a.C.. Foto de 2019 (mão de A.C. Basílio).
Flint denticulated (associated to another) in the deposition of a truncated cone pot and a copper halberd in the central area of Perdigões. It is dated to the third quarter of the 3rd millennium BC. Photo from 2019 (hand from A.C. Basílio).
Wednesday, 26 August 2020
0452 - Holding... at Perdigões (7)
Fragmento de corno de auroque, segurado pela M.J.Marques. Foi recolhido na Fossa 45, colocado no lugar da cabeça removida de um enterramento de cão. O depósito data do terceiro quartel do 3º milénio a.C. e a foto é de 2013.
Fragment of auroch horn, held by M.J.Marques. It was collected in Pit 45, deposited in the place of the removed head of a dog burial. The deposit dates from the third quarter of the 3rd millennium BC and the photo is from 2013.
Monday, 24 August 2020
0451 - Holding... at Perdigões (6)
Pequena placa de xisto oculada, proveniente da grande fossa designada Hipogeu 1, e datada do Neolítico Final. Foto de 2013.
Small schist plaque with eye representation, with provenance in the large pit designated Hipogeum 1, and dated from the Late Neolithic. Photo from 2013.
Sunday, 23 August 2020
0450 - Holding... at Perdigões (5)
Rabo e pernas de figurinha antropomórfica e placa com olhos raiados, provenientes do contexto de deposições de restos de cremações humanas (meados do 3º milénio a.C.), numa mão trabalhadora. Foto de 2013.
Backside and legs of anthropomorphic figurine and plaque with streaked eyes, from the context of depositions of human cremations remains (mid-3rd millennium BC), in a working hand. Photo from 2013.
Saturday, 22 August 2020
0449 - Holding.. at Perdigões (4)
O sempre sorridente Ricardo Godinho a "oferecer" um recipiente inteiro recolhido durante as escavações do Sepulcro 3 dos Perdigões (primeira metade do 3º milénio a.C.). Foto de 2017.
The always smiling Ricardo Godinho "offering" a complete pot collected during the excavations of Tomb 3 of Perdigões (first half of the 3rd millennium BC). Photo from 2017.
Friday, 21 August 2020
0448 - Holding... at Pedigões (3)
Lâmina de sílex. Uma das muitas provenientes do Sepulcro 1 dos Perdigões, na mão de Pedro Aldana. Imagem de 2001.
Flint blade. One of many from Tomb 1 of Perdigões, in the hand of Pedro Aldana. Photo from 2001.
Thursday, 20 August 2020
0447 - Holding... at Perdigões (2)
Hoje relembramos a descoberta de um corno de auroque, proveniente da Fossa 48, datada do final do Neolítico Médio e localizada na área central dos Perdigões. Ao colo do Juan Carlos Batanero, que tem sido um colaborador assíduo nas escavações dos Perdigões. Foto de 2014.
Today we recall the discovery of an auroch horn, from Pit 48, dating from the Late Middle Neolithic and located in the central area of Perdigões. In the lap of Juan Carlos Batanero, who has been a frequent collaborator in the excavations of Perdigões. Photo from 2014.
Wednesday, 19 August 2020
0446 - Holding ... at Perdigões (01)
Aproveitando o duplo significado do termo Hold em inglês, que significa aguardar e segurar, resolvemos tirar proveito deste espaço enquanto aguardamos pela próxima campanha nos Perdigões, para ir passando imagens de mãos e pessoas segurando objectos recolhidos ao longo de várias campanhas. Uma prática fotográfica que fomos mantendo desde o início.
Começamos com o André Texugo e a grande haste de cervídeo do Sepulcro 2 (terceiro quartel do 3º milénio a.C. , a haste claro). Imagem de 2016.
Taking advantage of the double meaning of the term Hold in English, which means to wait and grasp, we take advantage of this space, while waiting for the next campaign in Perdigões, to pass images of hands and people holding objects collected over several campaigns. A photographic practice that we have been maintaining since the beginning.
We start with André Texugo and the large deer antler from Tomb 2 (third quarter of the 3rd millennium BC, the antler of course). Image from 2016.
Tuesday, 11 August 2020
0445 - Uma primeira proposta / a first proposal
No âmbito do relatório que se encontra em curso de execução,
foi já realizado um primeiro ensaio interpretativo das principais (mas não
todas) linhas de paliçadas e alinhamentos de troncos / postes, feito a partir
das características evidenciadas pelas diferentes estruturas negativas que
compõem o timber circle central dos Perdigões (embora algumas opções pudessem
ser ligeiramente diferentes). Existem várias especificidades que sustentam esta
primeira proposta, mas que não cabe aqui apresentar e discutir. Naturalmente,
muito poderá ser mudado ou ajustado quando mais área for exposta. Vale a pena
sublinhar a circunstância de uma vala sem postes pelo interior de uma vala de
implantação de paliçada. Uma evocação local do conceito expresso por muitos
dos monumentos tipo "Henge" (fosso interno, bank externo)?
Within the scope of the report that is currently being written, a first interpretative proposal for the main (but not all) lines of palisades and alignments of trunks / posts has already been carried out, based on the characteristics evidenced by the different negative structures of the central timber circle of Perdigões (although some options could be slightly diffrent). There are several specificities that support this first proposal, to be discussed elsewhere though. Naturally, many may be changed or adjusted when more area is exposed. It is worth underlining the circumstance of a ditch without posts inside a palisade ditch. A local evocation of the concept expressed by many "Henge" monuments (internal ditch, external bank)?
Thursday, 30 July 2020
0344 - Buracos de Poste / Post Holes
The design of the post hole profiles is making it possible to detect regularities in sizes and morphologies (and their alternation) that will help in the interpretation of the plans of the two timber circles and in the proposals for reconstruction that will be advanced.
0343 - As visitas e a equipa /the visits and the team
Today we received the visit of José Roquette, owner of a large part of Perdigões and a great enthusiast of the site and the work developed there, accompanied by some family members.
E esta é a "grande" equipa que termina amanhã o seu empenhado trabalho, quando se vier fazer o levantamento aéreo com drone da parte exposta dos timber circles.
And this is the "big" team that ends its hard work tomorrow, when the aerial survey with drone of the exposed part of the timber circles will be done.
Wednesday, 29 July 2020
0342 - Campaniformes "rústicos" / Rustic Bell Beakers
Another one of these beaker vases, with a smooth "S" profile, with coarse pastes and a printed decoration scattered over the surface of the vase (this time not pinched, but printed with a small matrix, although a nail appears printed here and there) . In addition to the article that recently came out about this type of vases (download here)
Tuesday, 28 July 2020
0341 - Depósito da Fossa 92 / Pit 92 deposit
This is the pit 92 deposition set: four recipients, a shale cover, a Pecten maximus and two ivory buttons with "V" perforation. 1/3 of another container (in remounting), which served as the basis for the deposition of coals, and two halves of (one?) burned pig mandible (one of them inside one of the vessels) are missing.
Monday, 27 July 2020
0340 - Contar / Counting
Friday, 24 July 2020
0339 - Avanços / Advances
Here is a first image of the new Timber Circle (green lines) that overlaps, on the east side, the previous one (dashed lines in blue). It consists of a small trench with a circular tendency, which can be associated with a small ledge in the geological (dashed) and a sequence of post holes from the outside with regular spacing, diameter and depth (as evidenced by the posts placed in them).
Do lado Oeste, o Timber Circle maior é igualmente cortado por uma estrutura. Dela temos metade da planta, inclusivamente com uma entrada. A outra metade está por baixo de depósitos e da estrutra pétrea do início da Idade do Bronze (tal como o resto do Timber Circle). Assumindo-se em espelho a outra metade desta estrutura (a tracejado), ela apresentará uma planta genericamente elipsoidal. Assim sendo, a entrada identificada stá genericamente orientada ao solstíco de Verão, vendo-se através da entrada no horizonte o poste que foi colocado a marcar a entrada NE (Porta 1) e o local onde nasce o Sol no dia 21 de Junho para quem está no centro dos Perdigões (como já foi presenciado e documentado).
On the west side, the larger Timber Circle is also cut by a structure. We have half of it, even with an entrance. The other half is below deposits and the stone structure of the early Bronze Age (as does the rest of the Timber Circle). Assuming in mirror the other half of this structure (dashed), it will present a generally ellipsoidal plan. Therefore, the identified entrance is generically oriented towards the summer solstice, seeing through the entrance on the horizon the pole that was placed to mark the NE entrance (Door 1) and the place where the Sun rises on the 21st of June for whom it is in the center of Perdigões (as already witnessed and documented).
Thursday, 23 July 2020
0338 - Apostas / Bets
Today bets were placed on how many post holes these structures in the center of Perdigões will have at the end of the campaign. The number is already well over 100. And I speak of structures, because a suspicion has been confirmed: it is not one; are two Timber Circles partially overlapping. The most complex and largest and the simplest and smallest. Maybe tomorrow there will be a photo.
Wednesday, 22 July 2020
Monday, 20 July 2020
0336 - Por trás dos Potes / Behind the pots
In Pit 92, behind the three pots and the mandibles, there is a complete plate, a Pecten maximus valve and a schist lid.
Sunday, 19 July 2020
0335 - No contexto europeu / In the European context
Saturday, 18 July 2020
0334 - No centro / In the centre
O que estará mais para o interior deste recinto monumental não poderá ser conhecido nos próximos anos, já que sobre essa parte, para além dos depósitos que o cobrem (e que numa área contêm deposições de restos de cremações humanas), existe uma imensa estrutura pétrea da transição / início da Idade do Bronze que terá que ser escavada e compreendida primeiro. Na presente campanha tentará obter-se a máxima informação possível deste Timber Circle. O resto ficará para daqui a alguns (ou muitos) anos.
In the centre of Perdigões there is a structure with unique characteristics in the Iberian Peninsula that is being excavated. It is a circular enclosure, which will be about 20m in diameter and dating from the first centuries of the 3rd millennium BC. Last year, we noted that the enclosure was delimited by two small ditches and an internal alignment of large post holes. This year, after two weeks of excavation, it appears that this structure is more complex and monumental. We now see that inside the double outer ditches there are three (and not one) concentric rows of posts (of different dimensions); that these rows are delimited internally by a new small ditch (with different characteristics from the previous ones); and that by the inside this ditch a new post alignment is appearing. There is no 1m2 of geological free of negative structures.
What will be further inside this monumental enclosure will not be known in the coming years, since on this part, in addition to the deposits that cover it (that in part have depositions of human cremated remains), there is an immense stone structure of the transition / beginning of the Bronze Age that will have to be excavated and understood first. In this campaign will try to get as much information as possible from this Timber Circle. The rest will be in a few (or many) years.
Friday, 17 July 2020
0333 - Setas e mandíbulas / Arrows and mandibles
On one side, a beautiful arrowhead from the deposit that covers part of the Timber Circle. On the other, mandibles in the Pit 92. One burned inside one of the complete pots, mixed with charcoals, and fragments of two others just behind the referred container and also burned and surrounded by a deposit with many charcoals.
Thursday, 16 July 2020
0332 - Dia 10 / Day 10
Last year a small section of Pit 92 appeared next to a profile and in that profile was an entire pot inside the pit that was then removed for preservation reasons. This year a small enlargement is making it possible to excavate the pit and two more pots appeared. And it was possible to replace, for the photograph, the previously removed vase. A reunion.
Quanto ao resto, o "timber circle" complexifica-se.
For the rest, the "timber circle" becomes more complex.
Tuesday, 14 July 2020
0331- Mandíbulas e Buracos de poste / Mandibles and post holes
Today we started to reach the top of the geological in more area and to better define the new alignment of pole holes. It is the second alignment of posts by the interior of the parallel ditches, but a third is appearing.
Antes de lá chegar, porém, mais umaacumulação concentrada de materiais, que na base apresentava várias mandíbulas de animais.
Before arriving there, however, another concentrated accumulation of materials, which at the base had several animal mandibles.
Monday, 13 July 2020
330 - Chegando ao / Getting to the... timber circle.
Today we started to reach the top of the geological in some points and the architecture of the "timber circle" started to reveal itself even more. On the inner side of the alignment of large post holes (concentric in relation to the two small parallel ditches that delimit the structure) a new alignment of post holes began to be defined, these apparently joined by a small groove. All together, a plan of increasing complexity starts to be defined. It is also unique in the Iberian Peninsula.
Saturday, 11 July 2020
Friday, 10 July 2020
0328 - Densidade de materiais / Material density
A demonstrar isso alguns números: em 4 dias de escavação foram recolhidos e contabilizados, em apenas cerca de 15m2 e numa profundidade média de 25cm, 3358 fragmentos cerâmicos (e mais de mil restos faunísticos). Destes, 83 fragmentos são de pesos de tear e 464 de bordos. Os bordos representam 1/7 dos fragmentos de recipientes. O que nos deverá fazer reflectir. Num conjunto tão fragmentado (com fragmentos pequenos) 1/7 de bordos não seria espectável. Selecção? É verdade, o diabo está no detalhe.
In Perdigões, in certain structures and contexts, the density of materials is very high. This is the case for these deposits in the central area under excavation in recent years. Several overlapping levels of concentrations of ceramic fragments and fauna remains (and occasionally with other materials).
To demonstrate this, some figures: in 4 days of excavation, 3358 ceramic fragments (and more than a thousand fauna remains) were collected and counted, in just about 15m2 and at an average depth of 25 cm. Of these, 83 fragments are of loom weights and 464 of edges. The edges represent 1/7 of the container fragments. What should make us reflect. In such a fragmented set (with small fragments) 1/7 of edges would not be expected. Selection? True, the devil is in the detail.
Thursday, 9 July 2020
0327 - Dia 4 / Day 4
Um pouco ao lado, a definição dos já tradicionais (nos Perdigões) "tapetes" de fragmentos cerâmicos e restos faunístcos.
Beneath a (fireplace?) floor formed by ceramic fragments, a new floor appeared today also formed by shards.
To the side, the definition of the already traditional (in Perdigões) "carpets" of ceramic fragments and fauna remains.
Wednesday, 8 July 2020
0326 - Dia 3 / Day three
Within a set of diversified materials (pottery, arrow heads, lots of fauna), the highlight goes to a fragment of anthropomorphic figurine of burned ivory with the representation of the hair and a metal awl.
Tuesday, 7 July 2020
0325 - Dia dois /Day two
Monday, 6 July 2020
0324 - Primeiro dia, com muito calor / A very hot first day
The campaign started today, with cleaning and sun net mounting. A very hot day, partially used to advance in the study of Pit 93 and Tomb 3 materials.
Friday, 3 July 2020
0323 - De volta / Coming Back
Monday Era team will be back to another campaign at Perdigões. This time smaller, for obvious reasons, the team will concentrate in the excavation of the central area, namely of the deposits and structures that cover the timber circle. As usually since 2011 (the bolg has now a decade), the development of the excavation may be followed here.