Exceptional discoveries like the Côa Valley rock carvings have changed Portugal into one of the world's privileged nations for rock art. Rock art throughout the world is frequently a lost heritage waiting to be found, explored and truly studied. However, the standard of documentation is often rather poor. Hence the need to prepare researchers and familiarise them with pertinent aspects of this irreplaceable cultural resource, passing on essential, specific skills necessary to advance the discipline.
     This short specialist course will be held form 18 to 23 July 2004, in Mação, Portugal, and will instruct trainees on prevailing perspectives on rock art and, more specifically, on Recording Methodology and Techniques-advantages, limitations, risks; on Documentation-tracing, drawing, photography, topography; on Laboratory-cataloguing, analysis, scale drawing; on Presentation-publication, dissemination, display
     Classwork will be at the The Tagus Valley Museum of Prehistoric and Sacred Art in Mação. Fieldwork will take place at different sites in the district of Mação. Visits to other rock art sites (in the center and north of Portugal) can be organised after the course. 
     The course is intended for an international audience with lessons in English as well as Portuguese. On completion, trainees will be awarded a Certificate in Rock Art Documentation and Presentation approved by the IFRAO, the International Federation of Rock Art Organisations,APAR - Portugal.
     The €150 course fee includes teaching material, meals and a free place at a local camping ground. Reasonably priced guest-house accommodation is also available at participants' own cost.
     Organiser: Museu de Arte Pré-histórica e Sagrado do Vale do Tejo Mação (The Tagus Valley Museum of Prehistoric and Sacred Art); Scientific Coordinators: Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto (University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Portugal), Instituto Politecnico de Tomar (Polytechnic Institute of Tomar, Portugal); Patrons: IFRAO  International Federation of Rock Art Organizations, UISPP Union Internationale des Sciences Préhistoriques et Protohistoriques; Sponsor: Câmara Municipal de Mação (Municipality of Mação)
     For more information and on-line registration, consult this web site.

Source: Mila Simoes de Abreu (24 June 2004)