João Zilhão esclarece polémica sobre as gravuras do Alqueva

O ministro da Cultura confirmou em 7 de Maio 2002 a intenção de extinguir o IPA (Instituto Português de Arqueologia), criado na sequência da polémica sobre as gravuras de Foz Côa, actualmente presidido por João Zilhão.

Deixará assim de existir um organismo autónomo para os assuntos relacionados com o património arqueológico em Portugal, prevendo-se que se volte à fórmula antiga de integração com os monumentos nacionais.

Representará esta decisão um passo atrás na arqueologia portuguesa?

Mensagem de João Zilhão

 Dear Colleagues and Friends

Yesterday, May 6, the Minister of Culture of the Portuguese government elected March 17, 2002, publicly confirmed that the independent administration of the archaeological heritage of Portugal created in 1997 in the wake of the Côa valley affair — the IPA (Instituto Português de Arqueologia) — would cease to exist as such, in the framework of the planned creation of a joint administration for archaeology and the national monuments. No specific reasons have been given for this measure, which represents going back to the state of things that existed in 1994 and was largely responsible for the disastrous management of that affair by the heritage authorities of the time. The fact that the new government is largely made up of the same people and political parties who were in office back then may explain this decision to some extent. I remain confident that the radical transformation and the major achievements of Portuguese archaeology over the past five years will survive this setback. Nonetheless, this announcement left me no other choice but to offer my immediate resignation, which has already been accepted. At this stage, my professional future is uncertain, so, for any contacts, and until further notice, please use my home e-mail and home postal address below:

João Zilhão
Rua Prof. João Barreira, Porta C, 3H
1600-634 Telheiras
Portugal
Este endereço de email está protegido contra piratas. Necessita ter o JavaScript autorizado para o visualizar.
With all best wishes

João Zilhão