PALEOTEJO, A NETWORK FOR NEANDERTHAL AND PRE-NEANDERTHAL INVESTIGATION AND HERITAGE

Abstract

Since the 19th century, the Lower Tejo River (western Iberia) provide extensive evidence of Neanderthal occupation. However, due to the absence of long-term, well-funded projects and of fully-equipped research facilities, we still do not have a clear framework for the Neanderthal occupation of this crucial territory. Nowadays, probably more than ever, the increasing impact of urbanization and intensive agriculture potentiates the loss of already known and also the yet to find Paleolithic sites. Recently, grounded on the extensive work performed by Prof. Luís Raposo for 50 years, and also of decades of work from other colleagues, it was possible to put in place a network project that will integrate previous and new data on the first human communities in Portugal, both pre-Neanderthal and Neanderthal. In this contribution, we present the PaleoTejo project, highlighting the network of researchers and institutions, but also the strategy, goals and what has been achieved so far.