Archaeological work relating to the 6th archaeological excavation campaign in the area known as Cerca das Alcarias, in the village of Mesquita (Espírito Santo), is taking place between 1 and 15 September 2026, as part of the IACAM project – Archaeological Intervention in the Cercas das Alcarias, under the scientific coordination of Maria de Fátima Palma (Campo Arqueológico de Mértola) and Bilal Sarr (University of Granada), with the support of Mértola Town Council. The excavation involves an international team of researchers and students from Portugal and Spain, including PhD candidate Manuel Tristán Martín Ruiz, who spend this period alongside the community of the village of Mesquita, where they share the initial results of the excavation.
In this campaign, work is focused on sectors II and III, with the aim of understanding domestic structures from the Islamic period in a rural context, while the results of these years of research are also being disseminated. In this context, and with the aim of fostering closer ties with the community, an Open Day was held on 5 September, with the objectives of providing an insight into the past, enabling participation in the excavation, showcasing the heritage and connecting the community with science.
More information at https://camertola.pt/artigo/noticias/escavacao-em-mesquita-no-ambito-do-projeto-iacam-de-1-12-de-setembro-2026 and https://www.facebook.com/Pimalboran/
