Excavating Cremations: Burial Urns from the Iron Age Necropolis of Tera

All spots in this program are currently filled and there is a waitlist.  Please apply next year for the 2010 program.

Location:  Redondo, Portugal

Duration: 4 weeks; July 6th - 31st

Number of students: 6-8

Scientific Direction: Rui Mataloto, Camara Municipal de Redondo;   David Gonçalves, Universidade de Coimbra

Instructor: Leigh Oldershaw, New York University

The incineration necropolis of Tera is located outside the town of Pavia (around 150 km from Lisbon) and dates do the fifth century B.C.E.  This site has been excavated during various campaigns over the last two years and has yielded an amazing amount of burial urns with incinerated remains.  This program will focus on the excavation of those urns, already taken from the site, and the proper recording, excavation methodologies and identification of individuals and remains which have been stored within these containers for some 2,500 years.

The work already conducted here allows for some clarity regarding the complex rituals associated with the burial customs at this site. The other incinerations, were, mainly, deposited in urns that were then placed in a small pit and were associated with various personal items of the deceased. After deposition, the pits were then covered with rocks.

The spolia here are diverse and consist of perfume and imported unguentarian vessels, necklace beads, glass and fibulas. The burial goods may allow for a better understanding of the social stratification from this period. On the other hand, the anthropological data may supply relevant information regarding the life and death of Iron Age people in the Alentejo. When possible, the work here will focus on the pathology, dietary habits and ages of the individuals interred here.

The work will take place during the months of July and August in 2009 and are being coordinated under the scientific direction of Rui Mataloto, UNIARQ, Universidade de Lisboa, and instructed by Leigh Oldershaw, New York University.

Accommodations and transportation to and from the Lisbon airport are covered in the tuition and personal expenses and meals are at the expense of the participant.  The house where participants will reside is fully furnished and will accommodate all of the needs of the group during the course of the program. 

Students will be provided with a list of suggested readings to be reviewed and printed before the program begins.  Please email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it for more information or go to the HOME page, under APPLICATION FORMS and fill out an online app or download a word file under DOCUMENTATION.

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