Director of Program: Rui Mataloto

Scientific Direction: Catarina Alves (M. A. in candidacy); Rui Mataloto (Universidade de Lisboa, UNIARQ);

Excavation will run from the 30th of June - 1st of August, 2008

The hilltop castle of  Evoramonte is prominently marked in the countryside Alentejan landscape with kilometers of gently rolling plains leading up to this geographic crescendo - making it a true AXIS MUNDI  for ancient peoples and an ideal crossroads for ancient occupation sites. 

From the current archaeological data, it appears that there is evidence of occupation during the Iº millennium B.C.E. where, according to the observations by a professor or archaeology at the Universidade de Lisboa, Manuel Calado, there exists a wall line beneath the medieval walls of Evoramonte and that this fortified wall complex is more substantial than any other located, up until now, in the Alentejan region of Portugal. 

By the 20th century, José Leite de Vasconcellos, founder of the Museu de Etnologia e Arqueologia, in Lisboa, todays Museu Nacional de Arqueologia, had made reference to "some ancient materials" ("antigualhas”) at Evoramonte  and recognized the enormous potential for an archaeological site here.  This notion was reinforced by the fact that a known way for a Roman via, from Évora to the heart of Lusitânia, Augusta Emérita, met at this point.

For this reason, and given the classical sources, there have been many researchers who have associated Evoramonte  with  Dipo, the pre-Roman city which held great importance during the Lusitanian wares.  Dipo fwas the first city where there is mentioned uprisings by the Lusitanians that were later made famous by the Viriatus during the Lusitanian Wars.  Later, this city played a part during the Roman Civil Wars, , esta cidade viria a jogar um papel de relevo durante as Guerras Civis romanas, for its presence of Sertorian military contingents, during the beginning of the 1st century, B.C.E.

During its later moments, Dipo, known as Dipone, continued to be mentioned by classical authors, in particular, the Antonine Itinerary and the Ravennate (anonymous author), and the mention of the first mansio after the city of Évora (Ébora).

Nowadays, the absense of substantial archaeological evidence leaves us to ponder if Evoramonte=Dipo.  Therefore, those observations and field surveying finds made by Dr. Manuel Calado, and again by Mataloto, allows us to alter our perspective and to consider, throught the archaeological data, if this is indeed the fabled site. 

Excavation Plan:
At this excavation we plan to excavate using an open area methodology starting with an area of 50 a 60m²  and laid out over an one of the existing slopes in an area that is easily accessible and visible with accessibility that allows for the general public to view our works as well.  In this way, we hope to raise awareness to the cultural value of this town to both the local and regional public.