Muge Shellmiddens Project

Requalification and valorization of the archaeological and paleontological heritage of the Mesolithic complex of Muge (Central Portugal)

The uniqueness and monumental character of the set of sites integrating the Muge complex contributed, since its discovery in 1863, to their prominent role for the study of the Mesolithic period and of the human adaptations to the climatic changes that occurred during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. The archaeological work carried over the last 150 years in the Muge shellmiddens has generated a multitude of data and interpretations, which unfortunately form a vast and fragmented corpus, limiting their patrimonial potential by the difficult access to the archaeological materials and lack of systematic organization.