Start . 2006

Duration . 48 months

Principal Investigator . José António Bettencourt (CHAM)
 

Website . https://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160315155655/http://cham.fcsh.unl.pt/ext/pias/index.htm

Intitutions

Funding Entity

Governo Regional dos Açores

Main Research Unit

CHAM - Centro de Humanidades

Sponsors

Clube Náutico de Angra do Heroísmo
Octopus
Serviços de Acção Social da Universidade dos Açores
Universidade dos Açores

Throughout the 16th and part of the 17th centuries, the bay of Angra do Heroísmo, on the south coast of Terceira Island, was considered the main Atlantic oceanic port of call for Portuguese and Spanish ships returning to Europe with the goods brought from the New World and the East. A natural anchorage par excellence, protected from the prevailing north/north-eastern winds, the bay of Angra is sensitive to storms coming from the south/southwest, which caused numerous shipwrecks, according to existing documents and oral tradition and confirmed in several pieces of archaeological evidence only recently identified.

The PIAS project aims to contribute to the study of the port of Angra do Heroísmo between the 15th and 19th centuries, through the research, monitoring and improvement of the archaeological sites of Angra A, B, D, E, F, I and J. These sites are located in the Archaeological Park of the bay of Angra do Heroísmo, created by the Regional Government of the Azores, which is the body responsible for the heritage of the region. The activities to carry out are therefore covered by the protection and management proposals set out in the Regional Regulatory Decree No 20/2005 of 12 October. This instrument considers important the study and safeguard of underwater archaeological heritage and the dissemination of tourism connected with cultural heritage and knowledge of the history of the Azores. As a consequence, the proposed study intends to contribute to a better management of the Angra Bay heritage by providing the Autonomous Region of the Azores with necessary elements for an assessment of future monitoring, conservation and tourism promotion measures to be implemented in this location. Another goal is to carry out a survey of the written sources relating to this subject, promoting an integrated analysis of both historical and archaeological sources.

Goals

General Goals

• To Classify and assess the scientific and cultural tourism potential of the underwater archaeological heritage of the Autonomous Region of the Azores;
   
• To contribute to the international dissemination and affirmation of the Autonomous Region of the Azores in the context of cultural circles and scientific research in the field of underwater archaeology;
   
• To develop an integrated research programme of historical and archaeological sources linked with the port of Angra do Heroísmo in the 16th-19th centuries;
   
• To research the ships at the time of the expansion and navigation of the Atlantic according to archaeological sources;
   
• To contribute to: the enhancement and cultural tourism use of the cultural heritage of the Azores; the dissemination and participation of the community in the survey and study of the archaeological sites of the project;
   
• To collaborate in the introduction of monitoring and protection measures related to the underwater cultural heritage of Angra Bay.

Specific Goals

• Archaeological survey and record of Angra A, Angra B, Angra E and Angra F sites (visual recognition and characterisation of the general conditions; delimitation of the main archaeological context and exploration of the surrounding area; plant survey; photography and video recordings of the identified archaeological remains; assessment of the conditions of the site and characterisation of the mobile remnants);
   
• Recording and study of the elements of the Angra D ship and available documentation on the excavation phase;
   
• Assessment of the scientific and cultural tourism potential of these archaeological sites (elaboration of a general plan of protection, monitoring and enhancement of each site);
   
• Survey of historical and iconographic sources related to the use of the port of Angra. The main research focus will be the documentation stored in two archives: Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (Overseas Historical Archive) and Public Library and Biblioteca Pública e Arquivo Regional de Angra do Heroísmo (Public Library and Regional Archive of Angra do Heroísmo);
   
•  Integrated study of the historical and archaeological data obtained.

Team

José António Bettencourt  .    Coordenator

Cristóvão Fonseca (CHAM)
Inês Pinto Coelho (CHAM)
Margarida Vaz do Rego Machado (CHAM)
Patrícia Carvalho (CHAM)
Rute Dias Gregório (CHAM)