Phase II — Territorial Exploration and Collection of Autochthonous Stones
The second phase of the Lithography in Situ project concerns the process of identifying, collecting, and categorising autochthonous stones from different Portuguese territories, following a chronological and geological order. This stage extends the investigation from theoretical research to fieldwork, where the material becomes both subject and medium of experimentation.
The first expedition took place at the company Empresas de Lousas, in Valongo, where the initial tests were carried out with ardósia (black shale), a metamorphic rock traditionally associated with the region’s industrial and geological heritage. The subsequent phase focused on the exploration of basalt, a volcanic stone sourced from Faial Island in the Azores, introducing a new category of lithographic experimentation due to its origin and density.
The current stage of research is dedicated to the marbles of the Rota do Mármore do Anticlinal de Alentejo, encompassing the territories of Vila Viçosa, Borba, and Estremoz. These marbles present distinctive chromatic and structural properties for lithographic application, while embodying the cultural and historical significance of the Alentejo’s material heritage. The final phase will focus on limestone from the Cantanhede quarries, completing the comparative cycle of Portuguese lithographic stones within their diverse geological and cultural contexts.
