http://hdl.handle.net/10174/14473 2026-07-04T00:07:27Z 2026-07-04T00:07:27Z Ferreira, Teresa Nunes, Margarida Curto, Ana Manhita, Ana Palmeirão, Joana http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42285 2026-07-03T15:19:16Z 2026-07-01T23:00:00Z

Title: Unravelling the link between the simulacra of St Clemente of Palácio Nacional de Queluz and St Fortunato & St Semuc of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Almada Authors: Ferreira, Teresa; Nunes, Margarida; Curto, Ana; Manhita, Ana; Palmeirão, Joana Abstract: This work presents a comparative osteological, material, and technical investigation of three 18th-century simulacra preserved in Portugal, aiming to clarify their origin, circulation, assembly, and shared workshop practices. Archival documentation and authentication seals confirmed their Roman origin and circulation during the 1770s. Radiocarbon dating places the skeletal remains between the 3rd and 5th centuries, spanning both periods of Christian persecution and subsequent imperial consolidation. Osteological, radiographic, and endoscopic analyses revealed differing anatomical configurations: St Semuc and St Fortunato incorporate remains from multiple non-adult individuals, assembled through deliberate substitution and consolidation practices, whereas St Clemente preserves a largely complete and anatomically coherent skeleton of a probable young adult male. Nevertheless, a similar assemblage for the body was uncovered for all simulacra. Facial modelling relied on silk gauze tiers, stiffened with various organic materials, alone or mixed, including proteinaceous and resin binders, such as collagen-based glues and conifer colophony-type. Imaging-based morphometric analysis was used to explore the weave type, and similar morphometric parameters were estimated, indicating a deliberate and coherent choice of gauze type. Ultimately, SEM-EDS showed that "false gold" strips (gilt-silvered-copper strips) were used in the simulacra's helmets. Overall, the interdisciplinary approach evidenced that simulacra were assembled as devotional reliquaries likely in Rome, and that they shared the same workshop or similar workshop practices.

2026-07-01T23:00:00Z Camara, Carlos Andre Lopes, Gonçalo Schiavon, Nicola Mirão, José Beltrame, Massimo http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42216 2026-06-18T09:06:07Z 2025-03-27T00:00:00Z

Title: Islamic Middle Ages Pottery from Muge (Portugal), Serradinho Archaeological Site—A Long-Lasting Tradition of Pottery Production Authors: Camara, Carlos Andre; Lopes, Gonçalo; Schiavon, Nicola; Mirão, José; Beltrame, Massimo Abstract: During the Islamic period, ceramic workshops were commonly established in settlements throughout the Gharb al-Andalus region (Western Iberia at the time), to produce ceramics for local supply. Along the middle valley of the Tagus river (i.e., nowadays central Portugal), hundreds of Islamic ceramic sherds, either glazed or common wares, were recovered over different archaeological excavations. At the archaeological site of Serradinho, located at Muge (Municipality of Salvaterra de Magos, Santarem District, Portugal), a fortuitous finding was unearthed during agricultural works in which ceramic sherds from the Emiral (8–9th century) to the Almoravid (mid–12th century) period were recorded. The uninterrupted time lapse evidenced by these ceramic artefacts is a one-off opportunity to trace back early Islamic ceramic production and to link it with the long-lasting ceramic tradition documented at Muge by ethnographic studies. In this study, insights into the provenance of raw materials and the pottery-manufacturing processes will be approached by means of different optical and analytical methods, namely Optical Microscopy (OM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Scanning Electron Microscope, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and granulometric tests on sediments offering some interesting parallels between archaeological and modern ceramic production. Results suggested that most ceramics were locally produced, while others were imported into the settlement during the Islamic Middle Ages. Moreover, data indicate that a locally available raw material which is still used nowadays for the production of traditional ceramics had been employed. This result confirms the exploitation of the same raw material over time, linking Islamic Middle Ages ceramic production to the modern one.

2025-03-27T00:00:00Z Nunes, Margarida Corregidor, Victoria Cerqueira Alves, Luís J.C. SIlva, Bruno Waerenborgh, João Carlos G. Mitchell, Scott Claro, Ana Ferreira, Teresa http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42201 2026-06-16T09:15:50Z 2026-06-11T23:00:00Z

Title: Unveiling the maniz. cod. 99: A microscopic and spectroscopic investigation of its writing inks Authors: Nunes, Margarida; Corregidor, Victoria; Cerqueira Alves, Luís; J.C. SIlva, Bruno; Waerenborgh, João Carlos; G. Mitchell, Scott; Claro, Ana; Ferreira, Teresa Abstract: The Orthographia Pratica de Varias Letras is a unique 17th-century Portuguese codex, notable for its exceptional significance in the history of Latin calligraphy during the Modern period. Unfortunately, it faces complex conservation challenges due to the presence of iron gall ink (IGI). This work aimed to thoroughly characterise the inks and their impact on the manuscript using an integrated analytical approach. Extensive micro-XRF analysis revealed two distinct groups of IGIs based on their transition metal content. Zn-rich IGIs were found in half of the manuscript, suggesting the use of Zn-bearing green vitriol. In contrast, a more refined form of green vitriol was identified in the IGIs on the other half, suggesting that different types of vitriol were used. Variations in the binder-to-vitriol ratios were proposed, indicating distinct IGI formulations throughout the codex. The poor condition observed in some folios was primarily associated with greater ink coverage per surface area and lower binder content. FIB-SEM and PIXE analysis provided insights into the behaviour of Fe within the cellulose structure, including penetration and lateral migration. The IGI chromophore was further investigated by Mössbauer and XPS, which confirmed an Fe(III)-polyphenol mono-complex with a catecholate binding mode and Fe(III) in an octahedral arrangement.

2026-06-11T23:00:00Z Sitzia, Fabio Brandao, Filipe Bernardes, Paulo Pires, Vera Figueireido, Bruno Mirao, Josè Blanco-Rotea, Rebeca Ribeiro, Jorge http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42177 2026-06-12T10:38:12Z 2025-08-31T23:00:00Z

Title: From the quarry to the H-BIM for telling the story of Romanesque church of São João de Calvos (Portugal) Authors: Sitzia, Fabio; Brandao, Filipe; Bernardes, Paulo; Pires, Vera; Figueireido, Bruno; Mirao, Josè; Blanco-Rotea, Rebeca; Ribeiro, Jorge Abstract: Romanesque churches are among the most significant elements of Portuguese heritage, due to their architectural and technical-constructive quality and the stonework. The regions of Minho and Douro have the highest concentration of examples. The use of Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) tools now facilitates their protection, conservation, and promotion. This study presents the Romanesque church of S. João de Calvos (Guimarães, Portugal), which contains a wealth of architectural, historical, and technical-scientific information, recovered using different analysis tools applied to the study of its architecture and construction materials. A complete set of archaeological and physicochemical data on the materials was integrated into a Heritage Building Information Modelling model capable of managing geometric and non-geometric information. This is a pilot study for future initiatives, such as the “Route of the Romanesque” (Rota do Românico), incorporating the information into a municipal Heritage Building Information Modelling database for different purposes.

2025-08-31T23:00:00Z