Archaeologist and rock art researcher, coordinator of Rock Art Archaeology Chair (Instituto Politécnico de Tomar). Directs FIRST-ART (Europe's oldest rock art chronology and archaemetry studies) and RA3I AI-rock art consortium (Techframe/IPT/ITM). Tagus Basin PhD pioneer of superimposition analysis. Leads or co-leads multidisciplinary projects across Iberian Peninsula, UK, South Africa, Turkey, Colombia, Brazil, bridging fieldwork and computational innovation for prehistoric symbolic systems.
EDUCATION
Degree in Archaeology from Minho University (2007)
International Erasmus Mundus Master in Quaternary and Prehistory from Università di Ferrara (Italy), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (France), Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Spain), Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro University (Portugal) and Instituto Politecnico de Tomar (Portugal) (2009)
PhD in Quaternary, Cultures and Materials (Portugal) (2017)
Master in Virtual Heritage from Alicante University (2024)
Early stages of Palaeolithic rock art in southern Iberia. Malaga area Pedro Cantalejo Duartea, Luis-Efrén Fernández Rodríguez, Hipólito Collado Giraldo, Gerd-Christian Weniger, María del Mar Espejo Herrerías, et al. Complutum, 2025 En este trabajo proponemos un registro de cuevas del sur de Iberia que presentan manifestaciones gráficas paleolíticas compuestas por una variedad de signos, predominantemente digitaciones y puntuaciones, trazos, proyecciones de pigmentos sobre formaciones geológicas, o marcas de color aplicadas sobre la superficie o los bordes de espeleotemas. Se han agrupado bajo el concepto de horizonte anicónico. Las dataciones de series de uranio de la Cueva de Ardales han confirmado la notable antigüedad de algunas de estas manifestaciones. Presentamos las cuevas malagueñas que muestran evidencias de estas representaciones gráficas. Aportamos datos sobre la técnica empleada en los procesos de análisis arqueométrico llevados a cabo dentro del proyecto First Art, y discutimos y evaluamos su marco cronológico y cultural en relación con las sociedades paleolíticas de la región.
Autochthonous or Allochthonous, the Prehistoric Pottery of Cueva de Los Postes Virginia Lattao, Sara Garcês, Hugo Gomes, Pierluigi Rosina, Hipólito Collado Applied Sciences Switzerland, 2024 Cueva de Los Postes is located in the southern part of the Spanish Extremadura region, in the Fuentes de León municipality. This study analyzed pottery found during archaeological excavations in Cueva de Los Postes. The aim was to determine whether the raw materials had common or separate origins and determine whether or not the origin of the pottery raw material was regional. In this regard, several pottery fragments were found in different phases (Neolithic and Copper Age) of the Holocene occupation of Cueva de Los Postes. These were analyzed using ATR-FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy). The analyzed samples demonstrated no strong differences in their composition. In order to identify a possible origin for the kaolinite of the analyzed pottery, six samples of clay sediments were taken from inside and around the cave and subjected to ATR-FTIR. This was done to compare their compositions and check for a possible correlation with the pottery. The analyzed pottery, from different stratigraphic units, shows homogeneity in raw material. This finding, and the analyses made of the regional sediments, confirm that the raw material was regional and that there was a continuous use of it.
Ancient Diseases in Vertebrates: Tumours through the Ages Andreia Garcês, Isabel Pires, Sara Garcês Animals, 2024 Paleo-oncology studies neoplastic diseases in fossilised animals, including human remains. Recent advancements have enabled more accurate diagnoses of ancient pathologies despite the inherent challenges in identifying tumours in fossils—such as the rarity of well-preserved specimens, the predominance of bone remains, and the difficulty in distinguishing neoplastic from non-neoplastic lesions. This study compiles reports of tumours in fossilised animals, highlighting that neoplasms are present in a wide range of vertebrates and drawing comparisons to modern instances of similar diseases. The findings underscore the multifactorial aetiology of tumours, which involves genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, and suggest that tumours have been around for at least 350 million years.
Archeometrical Characterization of Rock Art Pigments from Puerto Roque Open-Air Rock Art Shelter (Valencia De Alcantara, Extremadura, Spain) Hugo Gomes, Hipólito Collado, Sara Garcês, Virginia Lattao, Maria Nicoli, et al. Heritage, 2024 The study seeks to unravel the intricate operational sequence involved in preparing prehistoric pigments for rock art within the Puerto Roque rock art shelter. Sixteen pigment samples were meticulously collected from specific figurative representations. Additionally, three ochre samples were sourced from the shelter’s soil. Employing a comprehensive multi-analytical approach, including Raman microspectroscopy, X-ray microfluorescence (EDxrf), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), all nineteen samples underwent thorough analysis. Notably, darker pigments revealed a composition of hematite with the added presence of carbon. Meanwhile, one sample exhibited an orange hue primarily composed of goethite and bright red pigments predominantly characterised by hematite, as confirmed by Raman analysis. EDxrf analysis demonstrated an elemental composition akin to the three ochre pieces examined. Furthermore, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy suggested the potential influence of a heating process in enhancing red coloration, corroborated by spectral results from specific samples. This finding aligns with prior research, underscoring the technological sophistication embedded in early artistic endeavours.
DATING PRE-HISTORIC PAINTED FIGURES FROM THE SERRA DA CAPIVARA NATIONAL PARK, PIAUÍ, BRAZIL Rock Art Research, 2022
Prehistory of central Portugal: Brief panoramic of rock art and archaeometry studies Indigenous Heritage and Rock Art Worldwide Research in Memory of Daniel Arsenault, 2021
The Western network revisited: The transition into agro-pastoralism in the Alto Ribatejo, Portugal Materials Productions Exchange Network and their Impact on the Societies of Neolithic Europe Proceedings of the Xvii Uispp World Congress 1 7 September 2014 Burgos Spain Volume 13 Session A25a, 2017
The rock art from Figueiredo (Sertã, Portugal): typology, parallels and chronology Post Palaeolithic Filiform Rock Art in Western Europe, 2016
RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
A Multi-Stage Deep Learning Framework for Automatic Pigment Classification and Filter Prediction in Rock Art Paintings B Ribeiro, D Danelatos, S Garcês, S Jardim IEEE Access , 2026 2026
The Tagus Valley Rock Complex, Portugal: A chronological proposal S Garcês L'Anthropologie 130 (1), 103455 , 2026 2026
Early stages of Palaeolithic rock art in southern Iberia. Malaga area PC Duarte, LEF Rodríguez, HC Giraldo, GC Weniger, ... Complutum 36 (2), 371-401 , 2025 2025
From Pixels to Patterns: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Imaging for Rock Art Interpretation S Jardim, S Garcês, HC Giraldo 2025 5th International Conference on Electrical, Computer, Communications … , 2025 2025
Exploring Artificial Intelligence Capabilities in the Detection and Classification of Prehistoric Rock Art Paintings B Macieira, H Pereira, H Nogueira, J Pomba, S Garcês, S Jardim Proceedings of the Future Technologies Conference, 530-546 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Comparative Analysis of Intestinal Morphometry in Mugil cephalus Reared in Biofloc and Water Exchange System S Garcés, VF Pedrosa, LA Romano, PADP Dos Santos, LB Giesta, G Lara Fishes 10 (10), 507 , 2025 2025
Art in red: New dates for paintings in the Cave of Altamira, Santillana del Mar, Spain Q Shao, C de las Heras, A Prada, P Fatás, LM Díaz-González, D Ordás, ... Journal of Archaeological Science 179, 106235 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
La Cueva del Toro de Benalmádena (Málaga, España). Nuevo proyecto científico para la recuperación de un enclave decorado excepcional en el Cerro del Calamorro DS Fernández Sánchez, HA Mira Perales, H Collado Giraldo, S Garces, ... Excmo. Ayuntamiento de Teba y Editorial La Serranía , 2025 2025
New Upper Palaeolithic Rock Art Complex in the Tejo Valley, Central Portugal T Pereira, S Garcês, D Danelatos, H Collado Giraldo, GH Nash, ... Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology 8 (1), 11 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Exploring the Application of a Co-Creation Model in Archaeological Tourism: Two Case Studies developed under TURARQ's project within the frame of Link Me Up-1000 ideas project S Garcês, H Gomes, M Martins, A Trindade, C Costa, A Manso, ... RPER, 125-141 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
The RA3I project: Rock Art and Artificial Intelligence S Garcês, L Oosterbeek, H Collado, H Gomes, S Jardim, C Mora, ... ASIAN PREHISTORY TODAY: Bridging Science, Heritage and Development, 98-98 , 2025 2025
Las primeras etapas del arte rupestre paleolítico en el sur de Iberia. Región de Málaga P Cantalejo Duartea, LE Fernández Rodríguez, H Collado Giraldo, ... Complutum 36 (2), 371-402 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
La Cueva del Toro de Benalmádena (Málaga, España): nuevo proyecto científico para la recuperación de un enclave decorado excepcional en el cerro del Calamorro DF Sánchez, HM Perales, HC Giraldo, S Garcês, H Gomes, V Lattao, ... Las sociedades neandertales del sur de la Península Ibérica y Sima de las … , 2025 2025
Explorando a Aplicação de um Modelo de Cocriação no Turismo Arqueológico: Dois Estudos de Caso Desenvolvidos no Âmbito do Projeto TURARQ Sob a Égide do Projeto Link Me Up-1000 … S Garcês, H Gomes, M Martins, A Trindade, C Costa, A Manso, ... Revista portuguesa de estudos regionais, 125-141 , 2025 2025
Autochthonous or Allochthonous, the Prehistoric Pottery of Cueva de Los Postes V Lattao, S Garcês, H Gomes, P Rosina, H Collado Applied Sciences 14 (11), 4706 , 2024 2024
Ancient diseases in vertebrates: tumours through the ages A Garcês, I Pires, S Garcês Animals 14 (10), 1474 , 2024 2024 Citations: 6
Archeometrical Characterization of Rock Art Pigments from Puerto Roque Open-Air Rock Art Shelter (Valencia De Alcantara, Extremadura, Spain) H Gomes, H Collado, S Garcês, V Lattao, M Nicoli, N Eftekhari, ... Heritage 7 (3), 1123-1139 , 2024 2024 Citations: 5
New Palaeolithic evidence from the Ocreza Valley D Danelatos, T Pereira, S Garcês, HC Giraldo, G Nash, O Adewumi, ... Arte, simbolismo y sociedad en la Prehistoria. Nuevos descubrimientos … , 2024 2024
NEW ROCK ART DISCOVERIES IN KING ARTHUR’S CAVE, HEREFORDSHIRE, GANAREW GH NASH, JA NASH, V LATTAO, S GARCÊS, H GOMES, P ROSINA, ... Proc. Univ. Bristol Spelaeol. Soc 29 (3), 251-262 , 2024 2024
Building Archaeotourism Brands–A Literature Review and an Analysis of an Ongoing Project in Rural Areas M Martins, S Garcês, H Gomes, A Trindade, DO Cardoso, E Ferraz, ... Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites 25 (4-6), 179-194 , 2023 2023
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Benquerencia (La Serena-Spain) rock art: An integrated spectroscopy analysis with FTIR and Raman P Rosina, H Collado, S Garcês, H Gomes, N Eftekhari, M Nicoli, ... Heliyon 5 (10) , 2019 2019 Citations: 29
Cervídeos na Arte Rupestre do Vale do Tejo: contributo para o estudo da Pré-História Recente S Garcês, L Oosterbeek Zahara 14, 90-94 , 2009 2009 Citations: 23
Cervídeos: Símbolos e Sociedade nos primórdios da agricultura no Vale do Tejo SLMB Garcês PQDT-Global , 2017 2017 Citations: 21
Between tools and engravings: technology and experimental archaeology to the study of Cachão do Algarve Rock Art N Santos da Rosa, S Cura, S Garcês, P Cura Technology and experimentation in archaeology, 87-96 , 2014 2014 Citations: 19
The relevance of watery soundscapes in a ritual context S Garcês, G Nash Time and Mind 10 (1), 69-80 , 2017 2017 Citations: 15
Pré-História do Alto Ribatejo-breve panorâmica L Oosterbeek, S Cura, J Carrondo, S Garcês, H Gomes, T Tomé Zahara 15, 77-88 , 2010 2010 Citations: 12
Identification of organic binders in pre-historic pigments through multiproxy archaeometric analyses from the Toca do Paraguaio and Boqueirão da Pedra Furada shelters (Serra da … H Gomes, P Rosina, N Guidon, C Buco, T Santos, L Volpe, C Vaccaro, ... Rock Art Research: The Journal of the Australian Rock Art Research … , 2019 2019 Citations: 11
In search of the ATR-FTIR signatures of experimentally mixed ingredients presumably used in pre-historic rock art S Garces, H Gomes, L Haddab, P Cura, P Rosina Rock Art Research: The Journal of the Australian Rock Art Research … , 2019 2019 Citations: 11
Arqueologia rupestre da bacia do Tejo: RUPTEJO L Oosterbeek, HC Giraldo, S Garcês Arkeos: perspectivas em diálogo, 133-173 , 2012 2012 Citations: 10
A multi-analytical evaluation of the depositional pattern on open-air rock art panels at “Abrigo del Lince”(Badajoz, Spain) M Nicoli, N Eftekhari, C Vaccaro, H Collado Giraldo, S Garcês, H Gomes, ... Environmental Science and Pollution Research 30 (9), 24344-24360 , 2023 2023 Citations: 7
Corpus do Complexo de Arte Rupestre do Vale do Tejo S Garcês Suplemento especial da série Area Domeniu. Instituto Terra é Memoria , 2018 2018 Citations: 7
Os cervídeos na arte rupestre em Território Português-do Côa ao Tejo MS ABREU, S GARCÊS GUÌDON, Niéde; BUCO, Crís; ABREU, Mila Simões, coord., Fumdhamentos IX … , 2010 2010 Citations: 7
Para uma revisão do estudo da arte rupestre do Vale do Tejo-O uso dos moldes de látex como instrumento de estudo MS ABREU, L OOSTERBEEK, S GARCÊS, F COIMBRA, G MUÑOZ, ... GUÌDON, Niéde; BUCO, Crís; ABREU, Mila Simões, coord., Fumdhamentos IX … , 2010 2010 Citations: 7
Ancient diseases in vertebrates: tumours through the ages A Garcês, I Pires, S Garcês Animals 14 (10), 1474 , 2024 2024 Citations: 6
The rock art of Caraculo, Namibe province, Angola B Fernandes, S Garcês, L Oosterbeek L'Anthropologie 127 (5), 103212 , 2023 2023 Citations: 6
Pigment spectroscopy analyses in Maltravieso cave, Spain P Rosina, H Collado, S Garcês, H Gomes, V Lattao, M Nicoli, N Eftekhari, ... L'Anthropologie 127 (1), 103116 , 2023 2023 Citations: 6
Dating pre-historic painted figures from the Serra da Capivara national park, Piaui, Brazil P Rosina, S Garcês, H Gomes, GH Nash, N Guidon, T dos Santos, C Buco, ... Rock Art Research: The Journal of the Australian Rock Art Research … , 2022 2022 Citations: 6
O projeto FIRSTART–conservação, documentação e gestão das primeiras manifestações de arte rupestre no Sudoeste da Península Ibérica: as grutas do Escoural e Maltravieso S Garcês, H Collado Giraldo, JJ García Arranz, L Oosterbeek, AC Silva, ... Morais Arnaud, J., César Neves, C., Andrea Martins, A.(Coords.): Arqueologia … , 2020 2020 Citations: 6
Filiform and ‘polissoir’rock art between the Tagus and Mondego rivers (Portugal): inventory, typology, parallels and chronology FA Coimbra, S Garcês, F Mailland, FA Coimbra, C Prestipino Quaderni del Mediterraneo 2 , 2015 2015 Citations: 6
The Tagus valley rock art complex: research, methodology and results S Garcês, L Oosterbeek Sobre rocas y huesos: las sociedades prehistóricas y sus manifestaciones … , 2015 2015 Citations: 6