ABSTRACT
This chapter presents preliminary data on patterns of microclimate in relation to the famous panels of late Pleistocene rock-art now preserved within the Côa Valley Archaeological Park, Portugal. The climatic data were obtained from four weather stations established within the Park as part of a programme of postgraduate research under the supervision of Professor Timothy Darvill, focused on the creation of a conservation urgency intervention scale (Fernandes 2014). This work dealt with the identification and utilization of key variables to assess the condition of outcrops carrying panels of rock-art in the Côa Valley. The overarching goal of research was to find ways of better informing, managing, and, more importantly, prioritizing future conservation interventions. Baptista and Fernandes (2007) summarize the discovery and character of the Côa Valley rock-art, while Fernandes (2007, 2008) provides a detailed description of the conservation issues at the Côa and the actions pursued to date.
