The UNESCO 14th Century Fortifications of Cerca Nova (Évora, Portugal): Provenience and Classification of Geo-Materials and Vascular Plants Inventory

A study of the UNESCO-listed 14th-century fortifications of Cerca Nova in Évora, Portugal, reveals that construction materials were primarily sourced from local quarries and scattered boulders, with limited use of non-local lithologies like marble and limestone—likely repurposed medieval spolia. The research employed lithological characterization to trace ancient extraction areas, providing archaeometric insights into the provenance of geomaterials. Additionally, an inventory of vascular plants growing on the fortifications identified 42 taxa, evenly split between native and exotic species, including eight invasive alien taxa predominantly of tropical-American origin. These findings highlight the historical significance of Cerca Nova while also underscoring its ecological dynamics.

Sitzia, F. (2024). THE UNESCO 14TH CENTURY FORTIFICATIONS OF CERCA NOVA (ÉVORA, PORTUGAL): PROVENIENCE AND CLASSIFICATION OF GEO-MATERIALS AND VASCULAR PLANTS INVENTORY. Estudos Do Quaternário / Quaternary Studies, (24), 24–33. https://doi.org/10.30893/eq.v0i24.220