Check out our listing on the AIA's Archaeological Fieldwork Opportunities Bulletin! Apply today.

The Castelo Archaeological Project is seeking applicants for our seventh season of excavation at the site of Castelo Velho da Serra d'Ossa, and for our second season of excavation at the site of Martes, both located in the Alentejo region of Portugal. Students will be housed in the nearby town of Redondo. 

Students who wish to join our 5 week session will have the unique opportunity to excavate two separate Bronze Age sites - Martes for the first two weeks and Castelo for the final three weeks of the project.

Castelo, a settlement approximately 14 ha in size and located at one of the highest points in the region, dates to the Late Bronze Age [LBA] and Iron Age of southwest Iberia. Martes is a smaller Late Bronze Age site (1 ha) located on a low hilltop approximately 10 km away from Castelo. Near to the LBA settlement at Martes is the Neolithic dolmen of Martes, which students will also have an opportunity to excavate in 2026. 
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The LBA of the southwest has long been characterized by the apparent emergence of a culture associated with defensiveness and warriorship, as represented by stone stelae depicting warrior iconography found in the wider region and the emergence of large, fortified sites that appear during this period.
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​Unfortunately, there has been a distinct lack of site-level investigations and data, thus leading to insufficient and generalizing interpretations of the LBA. Our project aims to contribute toward a more comprehensive understanding of this understudied period.

Walking to site, 2025 (Martes)

LBA rim, 2024 (Castelo)

Bronze Age Hut, 2019 (Castelo)

Castelo underwent a brief investigation in the early 2000s to safeguard surface artifacts in danger of being destroyed. Our 2018 season was the site’s first comprehensive excavation and uncovered the largest known Bronze Age hut (cabana​) in the southwest of Iberia. Work on the hut and additional areas of the site continued during the 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons. This work has revealed dozens of structures, including overlapping huts, platforms, and a surrounding defensive system. 

Martes was previously only surveyed but not formally excavated until 2025. Our first season of excavation confirmed what survey had noted: the presence of handmade ceramics typical of the LBA and evidence of metallurgical production. The end of our 2025 season revealed a LBA structure and our 2026 season intends to further explore this area. In 2026, students will also have the opportunity to excavate the nearby Neolithic dolmen of Martes. During the regional Bronze Age we see the re-use of megalithic monuments. In turn, excavation at the dolmen aims to explore this possibility.

Lab work, 2019 (Castelo)

Prior experience in archaeology is not required - students of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Please note that archaeological field and lab work can be physically and mentally challenging – so a positive attitude is important! ​This field project will train students in archaeological methods, such as excavation techniques, recording, illustration, and the handling and processing of artifacts. Those interested are always encouraged to apply early as admission is on a rolling basis.
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Tuition for the 5 week session at Castelo & Martes (including room, board, and transportation within Portugal) is €2125 EUR.

Tuition for the 3 week session at Castelo (including room, board, and transportation within Portugal) is €1425 EUR. 

Tuition for the 2 week session at Martes (including room, board, and transportation within Portugal) is €1025 EUR.