Towards the Public: A contribution of Public Archaeology at Serra do Carvalho, Póvoa do Lanhoso (North of Portugal)

Abstract

The following article aims to present the results of the valorization of two under tumuli monuments that are part of the Serra do Carvalho necropolis in Póvoa do Lanhoso. The work involved about a dozen volunteers, mainly inhabitants from the Póvoa do Lanhoso municipality, and consisted in the removal of the vegetation mantle, cutting trees rooted on top of the mounds and graphical recording of the archaeological structures. In addition to a detailed characterization of the tumuli, this project allowed the creation of a dynamic of heritage education and social awareness that fostered a better understanding and preservation of this type of monuments, often easily subject to destructive actions. Finally, all of this is taken as an opportunity to extend the discussion to another topic - the involvement between the Public and Archaeology.