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Museum artwork

Leiria Museum goes to Columbeira

Thirty thousand years ago, a 5-year-old child was buried by his clan in the Lapedo Valley in Leiria. The remains remained protected until their discovery in 1998. This historical milestone was chosen by the Leiria Museum to present at the Village of Columbeira, through a replica of the archaeological context of the Lapedo child and the Abrigo do Lagar Velho.

Almost thirty thousand years ago, a child, who would not have been older than five years, passed away. It is unknown whether they were a boy or a girl, and the causes of their death are unknown. It is known, however, that they were carefully buried in the recess of a rock, in Vale do Lapedo (Abrigo do Lagar Velho, Leiria). The body was since then protected by earth and sediment which accumulated over time, until its accidental discovery in December 1998. This discovery unveils countless stories related to our ancestors, showing that death and what lies beyond an infallibly short existence have long intrigued humanity, implying inner reflections for the human being.

Criança do Lapedo | Museu de Leiria | CIALV by museunaaldeia on Sketchfab

Lapedo child’s grave (reproduction)

Francisco Almeida, 2008

Model in various materials

Replica of the archaeological context, including the skeleton of the child (Lagar Velho 1), found in Abrigo do Lagar Velho during excavations carried out in 1998.

Museu de Leiria e Centro de
Interpretação do Abrigo do Lagar Velho

Lapedo child’s grave (reproduction)

Francisco Almeida, 2008

Model in various materials

Reconstitution of a temporary camp, during the Upper Palaeolithic.

Museu de Leiria & Centro de Interpretação do Abrigo
do Lagar Velho

Leiria Museum

Municipality of Leiria

In the heart of Leiria, you can get to know the region’s history, from Prehistory to Contemporaneity, in a single place! Reopened in 2015, Museu de Leiria promotes different cultural activities, from exhibitions to educational and leisure projects, as well as lectures and workshops. The museum’s collection is made up of artistic, archaeological and historical pieces, among which the collection of sacred art and Roman archaeological finds. One of the most iconic sections of the Museum showcases the human occupation of the region some 29000 years ago – an approach to “Criança do Lapedo” (Lapedo Child). This theme is developed in greater depth at Centro de Interpretação do Abrigo do Lagar Velho (CIALV).

The artwork that visited the Museum

Columbeira goes to the Museu de Leiria

The Museu de Leiria established a direct relationship with the archaeological heritage of the village of Bombarral by bringing and presenting to the community pieces from its collection, which represent a milestone in the history of the human species. The links between both territories gave rise to a work created by the Columbeira community: a map in honour of the village, where points of heritage and personal interest are identified.

see artwork

Meetings and Sharing

The Community welcomes an artwork from the Museum, inviting it into the heart of their village. This object becomes a catalyst, inspiring museum professionals and the artistic team to engage participants in a collaborative process. Together, they establish connections between the museum artwork, its reflection, and its ties to local heritage. Using local elements such as objects, songs, stories, and traditions, participants craft their own artwork. The celebration reaches its peak with the inauguration of a temporary exhibition in the museum. An artistic performance fosters connections among communities and museum professionals, strengthening bonds between them.

And so it was… Art as an invitation for encounters and connections.

Testimonials

I enjoyed the fraternisation, the interest that we brought to help the population evolve and remember its history (…) What it has to tell. For future generations. And the whys of things (…) The story told with the facts (…) historical records (…) how it happened, how it happened.

Acácio Gustavo
Community of Columbeira, Municipality of Bombarral

The project represents an idea that museums have to go out of doors and have to learn to work with communities in a different way. It involves a human dimension. It uncomplicates museums, it makes the places closer. For us, “Museu na Aldeia” is a seed that has fructified and that, at this moment, is already a quite robust tree.


Vânia Carvalho
Museu de Leiria, Municipality of Leiria

Exhibitions Credits

  • Cultural
    SAMP – Sociedade Artística Musical dos Pousos
  • Co-financier
    Iniciativa Portugal Inovação Social
    Programa Operacional Social e de Emprego (PO ISE)
    Portugal 2020
    Fundo Social Europeu (FSE)
  • Social investor
    Câmara Municipal de Leiria
    Partner
    Rede Cultura 2027
  • In collaboration with
    Município de Leiria
    Município do Bombarral
    Junta de Freguesia da Roliça
    União de Freguesias de Leiria, Pousos, Barreira e Cortes
    Museu de Leiria
    Centro de Interpretação do Abrigo do Lagar Velho
    Comissão de Melhoramentos da Columbeira
    União de Freguesias de Leiria, Pousos, Barreira e Cortes
  • Museums Working Group for “Rede Cultura 2027”
    Alberto Guerreiro | Museu Raul da Bernarda
    Sónia Santos | Município de Ourém
    Bruno Silva | Rede de Museus e Galerias de Óbidos
    Dóris Santos | Museu Dr. Joaquim Manso
    Filipe Guimarães da Silva | Fundação Mário Soares e Maria Barroso
    Jorge Figueiredo | Município de Porto de Mós
    Luís Figueiredo | Museu Damião de Góis e das Vítimas da Inquisição
    Margarida Moleiro | Museu Municipal Carlos Reis
    Raquel Janeirinho | Rede Museológica do Concelho de Peniche
    Vânia Carvalho | Museu de Leiria
  • The 13 Villages
    Alcanadas (Batalha) | Louriceira de Cima (Arruda dos Vinhos) | Ateanha (Ansião) | Cabeças (Alvaiázere) | Cercal (Cadaval) | Columbeira (Bombarral) | Fanhais (Nazaré) | Freixianda (Ourém) | Folgarosa (Torres Vedras) | Mosteiro (Pedrógão Grande) | São Bento (Porto de Mós) | Fetelaria (Sobral de Monte Agraço) | Pena e Casal da Pena (Torres Novas)
  • The 13 Museums
    Casa do Tempo (Castanheira de Pera) | Centro de Artes Caldas da Rainha | Centro de Estudos em Fotografia de Tomar | Rede de Museus e Galerias de Óbidos | Museu de Arte Popular Portuguesa (Pombal) | Museu da Lourinhã | Museu de Aguarela Roque Gameiro (Alcanena) | Museu de Leiria | Museu do Vidro (Marinha Grande) | Museu e Centro de Artes de Figueiró dos Vinhos | Museu Damião de Góis e das Vítimas da Inquisição (Alenquer) | Museu Raul da Bernarda (Alcobaça) | Rede Museológica do Concelho de Peniche

    The project also had the collaboration of museums from the 26 participating municipalities.
  • SAMP Contigo | Coordination
    Raquel Gomes
  • Museu na Aldeia | Coordination
    Gabriela da Rocha
    Sofia Neves
  • Museu na Aldeia | Teams of the project
    • SAMP | Artistic team
      Bruno Homem | Musician
      Filipa Cunha | Musician
      Inesa Markava | Artistic Performance Director
      Jesus Kristen | Musician
      Raquel Gomes | Community Artist
      Ruben Santos | Musician
      Sofia Neves | Actress
    • SAMP | Technical team
      Ana Figueiredo | Communication and Content Manager
      Cátia Gaio | Logistic and Financial Support
      Gabriela da Rocha | Museologist
      Henrique Chaves | Sociologist
      Lara Matos | Degree in Social Psychology
      Leonor Capricho | Graphic Designer
      Ismael Neves | Logistic and Financial Support
      Telma Pereira | Production
    • Texts
      Ana Figueiredo | SAMP
      Gabriela da Rocha | SAMP
      Henrique Chaves | SAMP
      Sofia Neves | SAMP
      Equipa do Museu de Leiria
    • Créditos Photography credits
      SAMP | Team
      Gil de Lemos
    • Museology and museography
      Cátia José | Museu de Leiria
      Gabriela da Rocha | SAMP
      Mário Coelho | Museu de Leiria
      Sara Marques da Cruz | Museu de Leiria
      Vânia Carvalho | Museu de Leiria
    • Graphic design and illustration
      Henrique Martinowski | SAMP
      Leonor Capricho | SAMP
    • Equipment design
      Paolo Martini | Novonovo
    • Exhibition set-up
      Cátia José | Museu de Leiria
      Gabriela da Rocha | SAMP
      Inês Soares e Lorenzo Scodeller | Novonovo
      Mário Coelho | Museu de Leiria
      Sara Marques da Cruz | Museu de Leiria
      Vânia Carvalho | Museu de Leiria
      Vânia Jordão | Museu de Leiria
    • Carpentry service
      João Silva | Artymanha
      Nelson Cunha | Artymanha
    • Transportation and installation of the artwork
      Mário Coelho | Museu de Leiria
      Sara Marques da Cruz | Museu de Leiria
    • Model and replica of the Lapedo Child grave
      Digital information:
      T.A.C. (Tomografia Axial Computorizada) – Hospital Curry Cabral (Lisboa)
      Marcia Ponce de León, Christoph Zollikofer – Anthropological Institute – Universidade
      de Zurique (Suíça)
    • Data processing and execution of the replica
      Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão / Instituto Politécnico de Leiria – Center for Rapid and Sustained Product Development
      Francisco Almeida e Pedro Serra | Model and painting of the replica
    • Model of Abrigo do Lagar Velho
      Francisco Almeida e Pedro Serra | Model and painting of the replica
    • Insurance of the artwork
      LUSITANIA, Companhia de Seguros, SA
    • Acknowledgements
      Comunidade de Columbeira
      Comissão de Melhoramentos da Columbeira
      Museu Municipal do Bombarral
      Centro de Interpretação do Abrigo do Lagar Velho
      Associação de Defesa do Património Cultural do Concelho do Bombarral
      Politécnico de Leiria
      União de Freguesias de Leiria, Pousos, Barreira e Cortes
      ANAFS – Associação Nacional de Alistados das Formações Sanitárias

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