Vera Caetano

Graduated in Conservation and Restoration from the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar (Portugal) in 2009, specializing in the conservation and restoration of stone materials.

Currently, I collaborate with Luso-Galician teams, conducting research in the field of prehistoric art conservation. I participate in projects dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of megalithic monuments, as well as initiatives focused on other archaeological contexts, such as open-air rock shelters and outcrops featuring prehistoric paintings.

Recently, I joined the LandCraft project – "The Socio-Cultural Contexts of Recent Prehistory Art in the Côa Valley”, a pioneering initiative in Portugal. This project, led by a multidisciplinary team, has established a novel methodological and scientific approach, integrating archaeological inquiries with the challenges of cultural heritage conservation.

This experience forms the foundation for the research I aim to pursue in a PhD, focusing on the study of factors affecting the degradation and conservation of rock art. In this context, I highlight the crucial role of biological processes, whose understanding is essential for developing effective preservation strategies.

Through this contribution, I aspire for the research—integrating archaeology, heritage conservation, and natural sciences—to become a reference for analogous studies. My ambition is to deepen scientific knowledge of this ancestral legacy, promoting not only the preservation of such fragile heritage but also the integrated management of cultural landscapes and territories.