Now, a €50,000 archeological project is being launched to allow future visits to the site.

The project, headed by Professor Nelson J. Almeida of the University of Évora’s Archaeology department, is a long-term investment scheduled until 2029, kicking off with an archaeological campaign that lasts until September 11.

Heritage education

The site consists of 53 square metres in an area between the locales of Mombeja and Beringel, and the team of scientists hope to uncover there a section of the walls of this 3,000-year-old ruin.

According to Nelson J. Almeida, this project stands out by combining the scientific aspects of an investigation with a heritage education programme, consisting of a series of initiatives on local, national, and international scales and the creation of a plan for conservation and valuation.

This Bronze Age city was first studied in 1977 and had many excavations between 2008 and 2021, which unearthed over 50,000 artefacts. This place is thought to have been the regional centre of power before the emergence of Beja in the Iron Age.

The excavation campaign, which will last until September 11, will be open to visitors every weekday between 08:30 and 12:30, giving the public the chance to engage in the archaeological process.