Archaeologists argue that, under the terms of the document, the Faculty of Arts of the University of Lisbon (FLUL) "will perform functions that the Law consecrates to the State, through the supervisory bodies of the Archaeology sector", according to the statement released today by SATArq. The terms of the "cooperation contract", announced last Wednesday by the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-LVT), guarantee "cooperation in the pronouncement on requests for authorisation to carry out archaeological work, as well as the respective reports and in the monitoring of the work". According to the CCDR-LVT, this protocol "will also allow for the construction of a regional plan for priority interventions, in terms of safeguarding archaeological heritage, as well as programmes for its conservation, restoration and enhancement." The "cooperation contract" between the CCDR-LVT and the FLUL is processed through the University of Lisbon's Archaeology Centre (UNIARQ) and arises in the context of the transfer to the CCDRs, on 1 January this year, of the powers of the former Regional Directorates of Culture, within the scope of the reorganisation of the cultural heritage area, undertaken by the previous government, which the current government wants to review, as expressed in its programme. For archaeologists, "the implementation of the contract" with UNIARQ represents the transfer to external institutions of the powers that the legislation in the area of cultural heritage attributes to State bodies, namely "protection, safeguarding, enhancement and dissemination of Archaeological Heritage", giving "a huge blow" to the sector, "accentuating the dismantling and weakening of the State and its obligation to manage archaeological activity". The archaeologists also state that the CCDR-LVT's option "arises from the lack of specialised human resources" in this body, particularly archaeologists, a lack that would be met by hiring professionals. The option, they add, thus deepens "the precariousness, which is already so great and destructive for Archaeology workers and for Heritage." The "cooperation contract" between the CCDR-LVT and the FLUL aims at "collaboration in the field of safeguarding archaeological heritage." When signing this contract, the president of the CCDR-LVT, Teresa Almeida, quoted by the statement last Wednesday, highlighted the "evidence given" by UNIARQ "within the sector, with academic recognition not only in the territory of the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region but also at national level". The powers in the area of Culture were transferred to the CCDRs within the scope of the reorganisation of the cultural heritage area, undertaken by the previous government, which also created the Museums and National Monuments (MMP) company and the Public Institute of Cultural Heritage. These two entities now share the universe that was until then concentrated in the former General Directorate of Cultural Heritage. The Government's programme, presented on the 10th of this month, foresees the revision of these "management and legislation models", to guarantee "the proper functioning" of the sector, "paralysed by the reform recently undertaken by the previous Government". "In the administrative reforms undertaken, structures of representation and support were dismantled, in the various territories, and the basic needs of the entities responsible for preservation, programming and dissemination, in their thematic and geographical diversity, were ignored, thus compromising the fundamental role of Culture as an essential element of social and territorial cohesion", can be read in the programme of the current Government, relating to the Ministry of Culture, supervised by historian Dalila Rodrigues. Read Also: Archaeologists count on the Minister of Culture and warn of a sector in rupture (Portuguese version)