07/11/2025 - ERA's Lucy Evangelista interviewed on the ‘Histórias de Lisboa’ podcast

ERA archaeologist reveals details about the discovery of nearly 3,000 child burials at São Domingos Convent

Lucy Shaw Evangelista, archaeologist and bioanthropologist at ERA Arqueologia, was interviewed on the weekly podcast Histórias de Lisboa by journalist Miguel Franco de Andrade to discuss one of the most unique and moving discoveries made in the heart of the Portuguese capital: the excavation of a cemetery containing nearly three thousand children at the former São Domingos Convent.

As part of a large-scale archaeology, conservation and restoration project at the São Domingos Convent, ERA's team identified and excavated a previously unknown funerary space, used between the late 18th and early 19th centuries, following the 1755 earthquake, which left the convent severely damaged.

At the site, the team studied approximately 3,000 burials, the vast majority of which were individuals aged between 26 weeks of gestation and one year old. It is a unique assemblage in the context of international archaeology, described by Lucy Evangelista as "the largest necropolis of its kind in the world."

The discovery opens a unique window into the study of funerary practices, living conditions and health, as well as the social and religious dynamics of Lisbon at the turn of the 18th to the 19th century. The ongoing research, which combines archaeology with bioanthropology, will provide a better understanding of who these children were, the context in which they lived and died, and the significance of this space in the post-earthquake city.

The full interview is available here and here. 

You can also explore our YouTube playlist dedicated to the topic: