NEW! Fourth Announcement for IRAC 1998

1998 International Rock-Art Congress
Universidade de Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro Vila Real - Portugal

6-12 September 1998



Crossing Frontiers

UTAD (Universidade de Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro) is the venue of the 1998
International Rock-Art Congress (IRAC 1998) which takes place in Vila
Real, a charming town in the north of Portugal, from 6-12 September 1998
.

The theme, Crossing Frontiers, will bring together researchers and students
that are interested in the study, conservation, and presentation of
rock-art throughout the world.


The aim is to reveal and explore the latest discoveries, emerging methods
and techniques so that participants can be fully up-to-date with the most
recent developments.

Advances in information and communications technology are giving us novel
ways of looking at rock-art that is leading us across cognitive frontiers
and into the next millennium.


Preliminary Programme

Five days of academic papers
Five round tables
Five workshops
Posters
Slide and video sessions
Computer science centre
Book fair
Exhibitions
Artists' gallery
Display of equipment and techniques
Visits during congress
Excursions before and after congress
Annual Meeting of IFRAO

The congress will make rooms available to participants who wish to hold
complementary activities or meetings.

Individuals or organisations that wish to reserve space for encounters
should contact the IRAC 1998 office as soon as possible.



Topics

A. World Tour: news of finds and work in progress on five continents

B. Science: methodology, analysis, interdisciplinary and
multi-disciplinary studies (recording, photography, dating)

C. Future: heritage management, conservation, preservation,
presentation and education

D. Ideas: religion, symbolism, semiotics, cognitive theory

E. Cyber-space: application and use of communications and
information technology (imaging, virtual reality, 3D VR,
networking, hardware), managing and presenting data,
programming, impact of new developments

Several symposia will fall under each topic. Those interested in
contributing to the congress are invited to propose symposia connected with
the five topics. Symposia proposals must reach the IRAC 1998 office by December 1997.


Symposia mooted so far

* Animals in Rock Art--Biotic Representations
chaired by Thomas Wyrol - Institutum Canarium (IC - Austria)

* Recording and Preventive Conservation, chaired
by Ben K. Swartz, Jr. - American Committee to Advance the
Study of Petroglyphs and Pictographs (ACASPP - USA)

* Rock Art and Education
chaired by Dario Seglie - Centro Studi e Museo d'Arte
Preistorica (CeSMAP - Italy)


Visits and Excursions

During IRAC 1998 participants will have a chance to visit the Geology
Museum of UTAD, the new Archaeology Museum of Vila Real and places of
interest such as the Santuary of Panoias, rock-art sites of Lamelas
(Ribeira de Pena) and Mao do Homem (Vila Real). Those that wish will also
get an opportunity to see beautiful sights in the Nature Park of Alvao.


Excursions before and after congress

Great Tour of Tras-os-Montes - rock-shelters of Planalto Mirandes and Serra
de Pacos, rocks of Assares and Ridevides, the Mazouco horse, rock-shelter
of Fraga d'Aia, the Coa valley rock-art area and archaeological zone of
Freixo Numao

Great Tour of Alentejo - Cave of Escoural, the notable menir and dolmen
area of Evora and Reguengos

Douro Valley - Mazouco horse, Coa valley rock-art area and archaeological
zone of Freixo Numao

Arronches - painted rock-shelters (Portalegre) and Tagus Valley rock-art area


Lodging

There is modestly priced accommodation near university campus. Vila Real
has several excellent but inexpensive hotels as well as good guest houses.
There are also rooms available in various country houses.


Language

The official languages of the Congress will be English and Portuguese.
Presentations in Spanish and French will also be accepted.


Location of IRAC 1998

The congress will be held on UTAD's Campus at Quinta dos Prados in Vila
Real. The campus provides a very convivial atmosphere. Its gardens are a
joy to behold and the university is quite rightly proud of them. Besides
the open green spaces, there are cafes, bars, a small book shop and tennis
courts. The Congress will use well equipped facilities in UTAD's
Geo-Sciences building.



UTAD

UTAD was founded in March 1986, incorporating its precursor, the Instituto
Universitario de Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro. It has 6000 students that,
with teaching, research and support staff, are a dynamic force in Vila Real
and region of Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro.

The Geology Department has an Archaeology Unit that was built up by the
late Prof. Carlos Ervedosa. The unit's Human Origins Group (Grupo de
Antropogenese) is advancing studies about human origins and palaeontology,
geology of the Quaternary, as well as prehistory and archaeology. A high
priority is Rock-Art Studies in the region and throughout the world.

In January 1997, staff and students created the first www page in
Portuguese about human origins and palaeontology together with information
about rock-art and archaeology. To see this point your browser at
http://www.utad.pt/~origins



Further Information

Mila Simoes de Abreu
IRAC 1998 (Congresso Internacional de Arte Rupestre)
Seccao de Geologia - Unidade de Arqueologia
Universidade de Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro Apartado 202
5001 Vila Real Codex Portugal

Ph: +351 (59) 32 01 79
Fx: +351 (59) 32 61 46


e-mail: msabreu@utad.pt

www: http://www.utad.geira.pt/irac/index_English.html


or

Mila Simoes de Abreu and Ludwig Jaffe
Associacao de Arte Rupestre Portuguesa
Av. D. Jose I - n. 53
2780 Oeiras Portugal

Ph/Fx: +351 (1) 457 95 24


e-mail: ludwig.mila@mail.telepac.pt

IFRAO.NET

@WebMaster