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Pico: New archaeological evidence reveals human presence before Portuguese occup

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dhill757
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« on: July 06, 2014, 04:59:18 pm »

Pico: New archaeological evidence reveals human presence before Portuguese occupation – Azores


Posted on 28 August 2013.

Archaeologists from the Portuguese Association of Archaeological Research (APIA) have identified new archaeological evidence on Pico island that supports their belief that human occupation of the Azores predates the arrival of the Portuguese by many thousands of years.

The new evidence comprises of a great variety of protohistoric pyramidal rock structures, some of them 13 meters tall. The Azorean archipelago was discovered uninhabited by the Portuguese around 1427.

Some pyramids organized to create a large plaza assumed to be a meeting place. (Photo APIA)

Archaeologists working on site believe the structures were created by ancestral occupiers of the island suggesting they were places of worship with  funeral ritual purposes. They have said that dozens of similar structures have been identified in the Madalena area of Pico island.

According to APIA’s archeologists Nuno Ribeiro and Anabela Joaquinito, artifacts were also found on site which may predate the Portuguese settlement on the island.  They believe the structures may have been built according to  an oriented plan, aligned with the summer solstices, which suggests they were built with an intended purpose.

They also believe that the Madalena pyramidal structures, known by the locals as “maroiços,” are analogous to similar protohistoric structures found in Sicily, North Africa and the Canary islands which are known to have served ritual purposes.

One of the 140 pyramids observed by the archeologists in the Madalena area of Pico Island, Azores. Some of these structures reach about 13 meters (43 feet) high. (Photo APIA)

Recent additional archaeological findings in the Azores support the evidence of  earlier human occupation of the islands. Last year, archaeologist Nuno Ribeiro revealed having found rock art on the island of Terceira, which he also believes predates the arrival of the Portuguese by many thousands of years.

In the last three years, Nuno Ribeiro has claimed to have found a variety of additional ancient archaeological remains on other Azorean islands. They include an epigraph from Roman times, Carthaginian sanctuaries, cave art, and megalithic structures. He has also claimed his findings have been published in scientific magazines and presented at international conferences with great acceptance by the international scientific community.

According to the archaeologists studying the pyramids on the island of Pico, Azores, they seem to be oriented to the stars. Some of the pyramids do have inside chambers not yet explored. (Photo APIA)

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http://portuguese-american-journal.com/pico-new-archeological-evidence-reveals-human-presence-before-portuguese-occupation-azores/
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dhill757
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« Reply #1 on: July 06, 2014, 05:01:31 pm »



Some pyramids organized to create a large plaza assumed to be a meeting place. (Photo APIA)
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« Reply #2 on: July 06, 2014, 05:02:06 pm »



One of the 140 pyramids observed by the archeologists in the Madalena area of Pico Island, Azores. Some of these structures reach about 13 meters (43 feet) high. (Photo APIA)
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« Reply #3 on: July 06, 2014, 05:03:11 pm »



According to the archaeologists studying the pyramids on the island of Pico, Azores, they seem to be oriented to the stars. Some of the pyramids do have inside chambers not yet explored. (Photo APIA)
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« Reply #4 on: July 06, 2014, 05:05:19 pm »

Archaeological findings in the Azores spark controversy – Update

Posted on 18 July 2011.



The alleged Carthaginian temples dedicated to the goddess Tanit, found recently on Terceira island, Azores, are not ancient archaeological findings from the fourth century BC, but sixteenth and seventeenth century military structures, according to Francisco Maduro Dias, president of the Historical Institute of Terceira Island.

Early in July, archaeologists from Lisbon-based Portuguese Association of Archaeological Research (APIA), Nuno Ribeiro and Anabela Joaquinito, had claimed to have found, in Monte Brasil, Angra do Heroismo, Terceira island, a significant number of fourth century BC

Archeological site at Monte Brasil,
Terceira island, Azores.

Carthaginian temples they believe to have been dedicated to the ancient goddess Tanit.

Nuno Ribeiro said that, in view of the findings, “The time of human settlement in the Azores may not be what history says, but a different one based on the archeological evidence found on the archipelago.”

The president of the Historical Institute of Terceira, Francisco Maduro Dias, challenged the APIA researchers’ claims, arguing that “between fantasy and reality,” he believed the APIA’s claims had “much more to do with fantasy.”

Rock carvings in Terceira.

The president of Lisbon-based Portuguese Archaeologists Association, José Arnaut, cautioned that “in archeology all is possible” and that the findings needed to be scrutinized scientifically.

For the archaeologists at Lisbon-based Center for Modern and Contemporary Archaeological Studies, the APIA’s archaeologists were mistaken, and the findings were the sort of “Indiana Jones sensationalism,” lacking scientific validation.

Reiterating they have collected enough evidence to support their claim, the APIA’s archeologists said they will present their findings at the upcoming international archaeological conference in Évora (Portugal), scheduled for September 2011, and a conference in Florence (Italy) in 2012.

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http://portuguese-american-journal.com/archeological-findings-in-the-azores-spark-controversy-%E2%80%93-update/
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« Reply #5 on: July 06, 2014, 05:05:57 pm »



Archeological site at Monte Brasil,
Terceira island, Azores.
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« Reply #6 on: July 06, 2014, 05:06:28 pm »



Rock carvings in Terceira.
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« Reply #7 on: July 06, 2014, 05:09:22 pm »

Terceira: Subaquatic pyramidal shaped structure found – Azores
21

Posted on 19 September 2013.



An underwater pyramidal structure was identified at a depth of 40 meters off the coast of Terceira Island. The perfectly squared structure was sighted by a private yacht owner, Diocleciano Silva, during a recreational trip.

Estimated to be approximately 60 meters high, the enigmatic structure was recorded through GPS digital technology. “The pyramid is perfectly shaped and apparently oriented by the cardinal points,” Silva told Diário Insular, the local newspaper.

Most recently, archeologists from the Portuguese Association of Archaeological Research (APIA) have identified archaeological evidence on Pico island that supports their belief that human occupation of the Azores predates the arrival of the Portuguese by many thousands of years.




Image collected by Silva using GPS technology.

The evidence comprises of a great variety of protohistoric pyramidal rock structures, some of them 13 meters tall. The structures may have been built according to an oriented plan, aligned with the summer solstices, which suggests they were built with an intended purpose.

The Azorean archipelago was discovered uninhabited by the Portuguese around 1427.

Last year, archaeologists claimed to have found rock art on the island of Terceira, which they believe to be many thousands of years old.

In the last three years, a variety of ancient archaeological remains have been identified on all the nine islands of the Azorean archipelago. They include an epigraph from Roman times, Carthaginian sanctuaries, cave art, and megalithic structures.

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http://portuguese-american-journal.com/terceira-subaquatic-pyramidal-shaped-structure-found-azores/
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« Reply #8 on: July 06, 2014, 05:11:50 pm »

Archaeology: Prehistoric rock art found in caves on Terceira Island – Azores

Posted on 27 August 2012.

By Carolina Matos, Editor (*)

The president of the Portuguese Association of Archaeological Research (APIA), Nuno Ribeiro, revealed Monday having found rock art on the island of Terceira, supporting his believe that human occupation of the Azores predates the arrival of the Portuguese by many thousands of years, Lusa reported.

“We have found a rock art site with representations we believe can be dated back to the Bronze Age,”  Ribeiro told Lusa in Ponta Delgada, at a presentation in University of the Azores on the topic of early human occupation of the Azores.

The oldest cave art known in Europe is of prehistoric origin, dating back to approximately 40,000 years ago.

In the last three years, Ribeiro has been claiming that archeological remains of structures discovered on several Azorean islands are of pre-Portuguese origin by its architecture and construction.

“We have an epigraph from Roman times, according to two scientists who were invited to interpret the inscription, a cave art site, megalithic structures, and an important set of structures scattered throughout the islands that need to be interpreted in new ways,” he said.

“In some cases, we believe that there are temples and hypogea. We have no doubt that there are sanctuaries,” he said, remarking that data still needs to be dated.

Ribeiro also said that the archeological research findings in the Azores have been published in scientific articles and presented at international conferences on archeology, and have received “great acceptance among the international scientific community.”

Ribeiro has alleged before that the time of human settlement in the Azores may not be what history says, but a different one based on the archeological evidence found on the archipelago recently.

Archeologist Nuno Ribeiro researching in the Azores.

He has claimed to have found in the Azores a significant number of ancient ruins from the fourth century BC. Based on these findings, he believes, it is possible to establish that human presence in the Azores precedes the Portuguese occupation of the islands in the fifteen century.

In a interview in progress for the Portuguese American Journal, Nuno Ribeiro spoke of his claims and how he was led to his findings.  It all started because he had always been interested in the topic of the “discovery” of the Azores. He said, “The factor that triggered this whole process was a leisure trip I made to the Azores with my wife in the summer of 2010 to the islands of Terceira and Corvo.”

Of his interest for doing research in the Azores, he stated, “Obviously I had studied the legends, the various reports of the discovery of the Islands and especially, had previously studied the toponymy. I thought I had to visit Mount Brazil, because of the legends associated with the name of the place.”

It was in July 2011, that Ribeiro and Anabela Joaquinino, both archaeologists from Lisbon-based Portuguese Association of Archeological Research (APIA),  revealed to have found, in Monte Brasil, Angra do Heroismo, Terceira island, a significant number of fourth century BC Carthaginian temples. They believe the temples were dedicated to the ancient goddess Tanit.

Reportedly, the monuments have parallels in the Mediterranean world, namely in the Greek and Carthaginian cultures, where they were used for burials. The old monuments are believed to be over 2000 years old.

In addition, they had claimed to have found ancient rock carvings  on Terceira and São Miguel islands; Sunni inscriptions were discovered on São Miguel and Terceira islands and dozens of pre-Christian hypogea  uncovered on the islands of Terceira and Corvo. Similar findings were also reported on the islands of Santa Maria and Flores. Yet,  according to Ribeiro, “The investigation in the Azores can be said to have not yet begun.”

He presented the first data at the SOMA Mediterranean Archaeology Congress in March 2011, at the University of Catania (Italy) and the 2011 SEAC Congress in Évora (Portugal).

After such astonishing revelations, a research project presented in March 2011 to the Regional Government of Azores still waits funding and Ribeiro is the first one to acknowledge that there are more doubts that certainty. Although he may  hold enough evidence to support his claim, very little is still known.

Nuno Ribeiro, 40, was born in Lisbon. He is completing a Ph.D. in Prehistory and Ancient History at the University of Salamanca (Spain) and the Autonomous University of Lisbon (Portugal).  His area of research is the Proto-History and Rock Art. He is responsible for creating the first Centre of Interpretation of Rock Art, non-government in Portugal, in Vide-Seia. The Research Centre was established by the Portuguese Association of Archaeological Research (APIA) in 2008.  Currently, he is the president of the institution since its founding in 1998.

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http://portuguese-american-journal.com/archeology-prehistoric-rock-art-found-in-caves-on-terceira-island-azores/
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« Reply #9 on: July 06, 2014, 05:16:37 pm »


Ancient burial sites found – Azores


Posted on 06 March 2011.



Dozens of pre-Christian hypogea were found in the islands of  Terceira  and Corvo  in the Azores , according to the president of the Portuguese Association of Archaeological Research (APIA), Nuno Ribeiro.

The old monuments are believed to be over 2000 years old. There are also indications that there may be additional hypogea sites on the island of Flores.

“Dozens of these structures are visible, and everything indicates that these are very ancient monuments, found in areas where there was no agriculture,” said the president of APIA. 

The monuments in question were found on these two places during an outing that archeologist Nuno Ribeiro made in August 2010. “The structures indicate they were used as burials thousands of years ago,” he admitted.

According to the APIA president, “These kinds of monuments have parallels in the Mediterranean world, and the Greek and Carthaginian cultures, and were used for burials.”  He also acknowledged that the structures may have more than two thousand years,” and noted that the dating “must be substantiated and investigated.”

Speaking of the importance of these monuments, Ribeiro believes that “it is possible that human presence in the islands precedes the Portuguese occupation.”  According to him, a project will be presented by the end of March  to the international scientific community, to ascertain the antiquity of the findings.

The archaeological  findings in the Azores were presented at the XV Congress SUM 2011, Archaeology of the Mediterranean, which was held at the University of Catania (Sicily, Italy), with the particpation of archaeologists from the APIA.

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http://portuguese-american-journal.com/pre-christian-graves-found-in-the-azores/
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