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Never-before-seen archaeological artefacts on show in Porto

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If you happen to be in Porto, then this is a must visit exhibition. The "Cultures and Geographies" exhibit journeys through the history of civilisations, which allows visitors to take part in the ways of living and the rituals of the first human communities, in each of the five continents.

For the first time in eighty years (you read correctly), these 250 pieces of the ethnography and archaeology collections of the Faculty of Arts of the UP acquis (1919-1931) are on show to commemorate the FLUP's centennial.

But there's more to this amazing exhibit; on February 1916, the German vessel Cheruskia, transported an important spoil gathered in the Mesopotamia region, which was apprehended once it navigated Portuguese waters, when Portugal was no longer neutral in the conflict and joined the Allies against the German Empire.

The pieces were then kept at the do Archaeological Museum of the Faculty of Arts and after the armistice, they were returned to Germany, in 1926.

In return, Portugal was given a "vast spoil of the Berlin Museum, with pieces from numerous cultures and geographies, dating back to the first civilizations of the history of Mankind", as stated by the organisation.

Some of these pieces and others are on show at the Natural History and Science Museum of FLUP till 19th July, next the Jardim da Cordoaria.

The exhibition "Culturas e Geografias" was jointly organised by FLUP and the National Museum Soares dos Reis.

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