MINERALOGICAL COMPARISON STUDY OF OLD MORTARS FROM SOUTHERN PORTUGAL CATHEDRALS (EVORA AND ELVAS)

we present the results of the mineralogical characterization of the mortars from Elvas Cathedral and Evora Cathderal that was accomplished by combining different techniques, namely optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX) and X-ray diffraction

Novos dados sobre o megalitismo de Mora: a Anta do Pequito Velho (Mora, Portugal)

Mora's megalithism was inventoried and mostly excavated in the first half of the 19th century. XX, by Vergílio Correia and Manuel Heleno, who collected thousands of pieces, currently deposited in the National Archaeological Museum in Lisbon. At the end of 2016, José Lopes Aleixo Cravidão (owner of Monte do Pequito Velho) donated a set of twelve pieces collected in a megalithic monument on his property, destroyed by the construction of a road. It is presented the study of this collection that constitutes an important contribution to the knowledge of funerary rituals in this region

Analytical characterization of ancient mortars from the archaeological roman site of Pisões (Beja, Portugal)

The analytical characterization of mortar samples from the roman archaeological site of Pisões, located in Southern Portugal, were carried out by means of X-ray diffractometry (XRD), thermogravimetry (TGADTA), optical and electron scanning microscopy (SEM-EDS), potentiometry and combustion analysis. The Pisões archaeological complex includes a villa rustica, characterized by well-preserved mosaics and thermal baths, as well as a mill and a mausoleum. Countryside villae epitomized the Romanization of the Iberian Peninsula for over six centuries (2nd century BCE–4th century CE). Nevertheless, most of the Roman villae identified in Portugal have not yet been systematically explored and studied. This study provides valuable data on the construction materials and techniques used in Roman times in the Iberian Peninsula. The careful selection of raw materials and the use of natural and artificial pozzolanic materials can explain the favourable state of conservation, mechanical strength and long-term durability of these mortars

Micro-EDXRF, SEM-EDS and OM characterisation of tin soldering found in handle attachments of Roman situlae from Conimbriga (Portugal)

Tin (Sn) or a Sn-rich solder applied to copper-based artefacts has been frequently used at least, since the Ancient Greece, although scarce studies have been published concerning the technology of this metallurgical joining technique. Several filler remnants were reported to be found in a Roman collection of handle attachments of situlae or cauldrons (2nd century BCE–5th century CE) from the archaeological site of Conimbriga, a Roman city from the Lusitania Province (Portugal). All these artefacts were cast in high leaded coppers and bronzes. The present study aims to contribute to the knowledge of Sn-rich soldering, an ancientmetallurgical joining technique, by the characterisation of the fusible metallic alloy present in 10 Roman artefacts by means of micro-energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (micro-EDXRF), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDS) microanalysis and optical microscope (OM) observations. Results of studied solders show the presence of Cu-Sn alloys, with Sn contents ranging from δ to η phase composition (30–60wt% Sn). As the attachments were made in leaded copper alloys, it was also observed, in some cases, the melting of the interdendritic Pb-rich chains with long-range diffusion of the solder alloy into the substrate. The fillers compositions suggest that the handle attachments have been joined to a situla body by the soldering metallurgical process with Sn or a Sn-rich alloy. The studied leaded Cu-Sn attachments, probably formulated by local craftsman, were joined into the body of a situla or cauldron with a soft solder (soldering), a common metallurgical joint from Antiquity, although no relation was found between composition or typology and the Sn or Sn-rich solder

Ancient tin production: Slags from the Iron Age Carvalhelhos hillfort (NW Iberian Peninsula)

Provenance and production of tin in the Ancient World has since long been a major topic of discussion among archaeologists. In Western Europe, where significant tin ore (cassiterite) deposits are known, only a few remains of ancient tin production, such as tin slags, have been detected. In the present work, elemental and microstructural analyses by WDXRF, SEM-EDS and XRD were performed on recently recognised tin slags from the Iron Age Carvalhelhos hillfort located in NW Iberia, a territory that represents the largest extension with tin mineralisation in Western Europe. Elemental and microstructural characterisation of cassiterite collected in a pilot field survey in the region of the hillfort are presented and discussed, as well as two ceramic fragments that could be part of a smelting structure and an iron slag from the settlement. Results show that the tin slags have variable but high contents in Sn, similarly to Pre-Medieval tin slags found in other Western European areas, but also high contents of Ta and Nb, which specifically distinguish them from other tin slags, such as those found in SW Britain. Tin ores from the hillfort region frequently have Ta and Nb in cassiterite solid solution or as inclusions of columbite group minerals, relating well with the Carvalhelhos tin slags. Up to present, the Carvalhelhos slags are amongst the very few ancient tin slags known in Western Europe, and their study can contribute to a better knowledge on ancient tin sources and trade routes

Earth mortars from pre-historic habitat settlements in south Portugal. Case studies

J. Iberian Archaeology 13 (2010), 51-67Analyzing earth mortars from five archaeological habitat settlements in south Portugal allowed deepen the knowledge of some pre-historic building techniques and also contributed to the interpretation and reconstitution of those sites domestic structures. The analysed materials were composed by different types of earth traces: small clayish daub fragments coming from the renderings of two neolithic pits, from Defesa de Cima 2 (Évora); fragments of clayish mortars with branches prints, coming from covering and filling wood structures, from calcolithic settlement of São Pedro (Redondo, Évora); manual and perhaps moulded mudbricks, probably belonging to a wall adjacent to a surrounding moat, from calcolithic settlement of Alto do Outeiro (Beja); big fragments of a hut wall, probably made of stacked earth, from Alcalar calcolithic settlement (Portimão, Faro). Earth materials were burnt by fire, which permitted their conservation until nowadays

Villa de Noheda (Cuenca, Spain): a multi-analytical approach for mortar characterization

Villa de Noheda (Cuenca, Spain): a multi-analytical approach for mortar characterization Cristina Galacho(1), Patrícia Moita(2), Miguel Tévar(3), António Candeias(1) José Mirão(2) (1) Laboratory Hercules, Dpt. of Chemistry, Univ. of Évora, Portugal ([email protected]) (2) Laboratory Hercules, Dpt. of Geosciences, Univ. of Évora, Portugal . (3) Universidad de Castilla la Mancha, Spain The Roman architectural ensemble of Noheda, known by the fantastic dimensions of the tile panels have been classified as Cultural Heritage in 2012 and open to the public since 2015. Located at 500m of the homonymous village in Spain, corresponds to a roman Villa, dated from 4th to 5th century, which evidences an agricultural use trough a constructive complex with several functions. Until now there are two exhumed areas of the rural complex: some structures belonging to the pars rustica and on the other hand, a sector of the pars urbana, composed of some balneary outbuildings and various rooms of the residential building. It is in this last one that stands out the so-called Triabsid Room, not only for its imposing dimensions of 290.64m2, and its extraordinary pavements, but also for its complex architectural articulation and its careful walls decoration composed by marble plaques and mural painting. Under the framework of a bilateral Iberian project, several mortar samples were analysed for their compositional and textural characterization. The studied mortars cover a wide spectrum of architecture contexts (triclinium and its access areas, octagonal room and baths), inside and outside walls, and also later added walls. The data acquisition techniques consisted of X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and thin-section optical microscopy. The mortars are mainly composed by quartz aggregates, with semi-angular to semi-rounded grains, and very small amounts of K-feldspars. A generalized feature is the presence of numerous lime nodules, sometimes of centimeter-size, with calcitic composition. Lithic, ceramic and coal were occasionally observed. According to XRD analyses, the raw materials are very similar between samples suggesting a similar provenance, probably a river sand. The binder is an aerial calcite lime that was used mainly with a binder:aggregate ratio of 1:2 as determined by TG-DTA. The mortar from the baths have a smaller amount of binder (1:4) as well as an external wall (1:3) interpreted as a late enlargement after abandonment of the Villa. The results obtained point out to a considerable similarity not only at the level of the raw materials but also in the production technique used in the different areas of the residential building of the pars urbana, which would not have been altered in subsequent interventions. Differences were found only for the different functionalities; whether in the baths or when dealing with external walls

Vernacular Caramel´s Adobe Masonry Dwellings – Material Characterization

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia [PTDC/EPH-PAT/4684/2014].In Pinhal Novo, Palmela, and neighboring municipalities, southern Lisbon region, there are a great number of small adobe masonry dwellings, made in the first half of the twentieth century. The vernacular dwellings were constructed by families that came from the north/center region of Portugal to work at the local manors and were called Caramel´s. Adobe samples from three of these dwellings were collected in Pinhal Novo and Moita, and tested for particle size distribution, X-ray diffraction, color, bulk density, ultrasonic pulse velocity, thermal conductivity, dry abrasion, flexural and compressive strength, capillary absorption and drying. It was possible to conclude that the adobe was not chemically stabilized and had no vegetable fibers. Average values for the adobe properties were defined and results were analyzed, revealing comparable to unstabilised adobe and even to lime stabilized adobe from other regions. The data on Caramel´s adobe can support the design of interventions to preserve at least some of these Caramel´s vernacular dwellings.authorsversionepub_ahead_of_prin

Configuração do processo ofensivo no Andebol : Estudo da superioridade numérica, na relação cooperação/oposição relativa à zona da bola, em equipas portuguesas de níveis competitivos distintos

Dissertação de Mestrado em Ciências do Desporto, área de especialização em Desporto para Crianças e Jovens, apresentada à Faculdade de Ciências do Desporto e de Educação Física da Universidade do Port