The ancient Roman town of Ammaia joined European researchers

After having sent to you our call for participation in the Radio-Past Project's 1st Specialisation Forum on "integrated non-destructive approaches to understand and valorise complex archaeological sites" (Ammaia, Portugal, July 4 to 11, 2010), we would like to give you a short resume on its proceedings.

Through the innovative application of sophisticated techniques of survey and data management, modern archaeology has today a series of non-invasive methods on its hands that allow for the study of buried archaeological sites without their excavation. Training in these techniques is one of the objectives of the European Radio-Past Project, which will organize two other high-level training courses in the summers of 2011 and 2012.

This year's Specialisation Forum in Ammaia joined researchers and master and doctoral students from 13 European countries (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Romania, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Slovenia), which allowed for a vivid cross-border exchange of expertise and experience. During one week, intensive study included both classroom sessions and practical applications, with focus on a wide range of remote sensing techniques (vertical and oblique airborne photography, satellite imagery, multispectral remote sensing, LiDAR...), on topographical and microtopographical survey, and on geomatics and GIS integrated data processing. In order to receive their certificate of successful participation, the students had to pass a test on the material learned during classes and fieldwork.

The 2nd Specialisation Forum in the summer of 2011 will focus on geophysics and geomorphological survey applied to complex archaeological sites. You will receive more detailed information on this course in the spring of 2011.

The Radio-Past Project was launched under the Marie Curie Actions / IAPP (Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways) and includes, apart from the University of Evora (Portugal) as coordinator of the Project, three academic institutions and three private European companies - University of Ghent (Belgium), University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), The British School at Rome (Italy), Media Agency 7Reasons (Austria), Past2Present (Netherlands) and Eastern Atlas (Germany). At the Open Lab site of Ammaia, the Project works in close cooperation with the Fundação Cidade de Ammaia and the Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede.

If you want to receive more information on our work, we invite you to have a look at our website (www.radiopast.eu) or to contact us via e-mail (cornelia.fischer@sapo.pt).