The Walking Seminar “Landscapes, Archaeology and Living Heritage” will take place in Portugal from April 11th to April 17th, 2026.

The seminar is organised within the framework of the collaboration between the Instituto Terra e Memória (Mação) and the Polytechnic University of Tomar, and will offer participants a one-week immersive field experience across several archaeological, cultural, and historical landscapes of central Portugal.

Participation is limited to a maximum of 15 participants, in order to ensure close interaction with the experts and an engaging field-based learning environment. 

TARGETED AUDIENCE

The Walking Seminar is designed primarily for students, early-career researchers, and professionals interested in archaeology, heritage studies, geoarchaeology, landscape archaeology, and cultural heritage management.

The seminar combines site visits, field discussions, and informal seminars directly in the landscape, offering participants the opportunity to explore how archaeological sites, historical contexts, and natural landscapes interact over long time scales.

This format encourages dialogue between participants and specialists and provides a practical perspective on human–environment interactions, heritage interpretation, and landscape-based research.

 THE EXPERTS TEAM

The Walking Seminar is organised by researchers and professionals affiliated with the Instituto Terra e Memória (ITM) and the Polytechnic University of Tomar with expertise in archaeology, geoarchaeology, heritage studies, and landscape interpretation.

Throughout the week, participants will be accompanied by specialists who will guide discussions and provide contextual insights directly at the sites visited.

 THE PROGRAM

The seminar will take participants across several key archaeological and cultural locations in central Portugal, combining guided visits, landscape observation, and on-site discussions.

Among the places that will be visited are:

- Mação and the Ortiga area, exploring archaeological contexts and landscapes of the Tagus Valley;

- Museu de Arte Pré-Histórica e do Sagrado do Vale do Tejo (Mação);

- Prehistoric rock art sites in the Tagus Valley;

- Abrantes, including the historic centre and the castle;

- Évora, with visits to its historic centre and important archaeological landmarks;

- Escoural Cave, one of the most important prehistoric caves in Portugal;

- The megalithic landscapes of the Alentejo, including the Cromeleque dos Almendres;

- Anta Grande do Zambujeiro, one of the largest megalithic monuments in the Iberian Peninsula

The seminar follows a field-based learning format, where discussions and reflections take place directly at the sites, encouraging active participation and interdisciplinary exchange.

DEADLINE for REGISTRATION: April 1st 2026.

We look forward to welcoming you to Portugal for a week of exploration, discussion, and shared learning in the landscape.