Research

Research is essential for Geoparks. The following research projects are currently being developed at the Orígens Geopark:

A natural open museum in the Pyrenees: virtual reallity experience for dissemination and conservation of the geological and cultural heritage (VIGEOCULT)

PLEC2021-00793 (2021-2024)

Structural geology, Sedimentology, Paleontology, History, Cultural heritage, Virtual reality

Project led by the Geomodels research group of the Universitat de Barcelona in collaboration with the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, the Orígens UNESCO Global Geopark and the virtual reality company Digivisión with the aim of creating an open-air museum using the new methodologies of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) on 4D geological reconstructions. The project proposes to design a digital platform to develop applications that allow creating immersive experiences in different parts of the Geopark territory for educational purposes, dissemination and tourism promotion through VR/AR.

Directed by Dr. Josep Antoni Muñoz de la Fuente – Universitat de Barcelona (UB) with the collaboration of ICP, Orígens UNESCO Global Geopark and Digivisión.

VIGEOCULT Project (PLEC2021-00793) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union NextGenerationEU/ PRTR

Structure and deformation of passive margins involving salt layers

PID2020-117598GB-I00 (2021-2025)

Structural geology, Salt tectonics

Directed by Dr. Josep Antoni Muñoz de la Fuente – Geomodels – Universitat de Barcelona (UB).

Iberia in the Cretaceous and Paleogene: paleoisland and biogeographical bridge. Case studies in macroforaminifera and charophytes

PID2020-113912GB-I00 (2021-2025)

Paleontolography, Paleoclimatology, Biogeography

Directed by Dr. Carles Martín Closas – Universitat de Barcelona (UB)

Impact of Paleogene Climatic Transitions on the Sedimentary Systems of Iberia

PID2019-106440GB-C21 (2020-2024)

Sedimentology, Isotopes, Magnetostratigraphy

Directed by Dr. Miguel Garcés Crespo and Dr. Miguel López-Blanco – Universitat de Barcelona (UB).

New aproximations in the characterization of seismic sources and its integration in fault-based seismic hazard models. Case studies in the east of Iberia

PID2020-119772RB-I00 (2021-2025)

Paleosismology, Active tectonics, Geodesy, Geomorfology 

Directed by Dr. Raimon Pallàs Serra – RISKNAT – Universitat de Barcelona (UB).

Agricultural production, food and health between Late Antiquity and the High Middle Ages in the north-east of the Iberian peninsula

ARQ001SOL-119-2022 (2022-2025)

Archaeology

Research project from an interdisciplinary approach of the continuities and breaks in the historical processes of transition between Late Antiquity and the High Middle Ages in the northeast of the Iberian peninsula. This approach is based on an innovative methodology that crosses the data obtained and generated from the archaeological study of sites, the landscape, the buried individuals and the Latin documentation to answer questions inherent in the three interpretive vectors: agricultural production, food and health.

Directed by Dr. Jesús Brufal Sucarrat – Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

The end of an Era and the emergence of modern ecosystems

ARQ001SOL-167-2022 (2022-2025)

Paleontology

Directed by Dr. Josep Fortuny – Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP).

The continental Cretaceous of the southern Catalan Pyrenees: ecosystems and faunal evolution

(2022-2025)

Paleontology

Directed by Dr. Àngel Galobart – Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP).

The Catalan Paleogene and the origin of primates

CLT_2022_EXP_ARQ001SOLC_00000197 (2022-2025)

Paleontology

This study aims to recover remains of continental vertebrates, invertebrates and charophytes in Catalan basins through intensive sampling of known Paleogene localities and location of new fossiliferous levels in order to increase knowledge about the taxonomy, phylogenetic relationships and paleobiology of different groups, with special emphasis on primates. The objective is to accurately date and define the paleoenvironment of each site based on the data collection.

Directed by Dra. Judit Marigó – Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP).

«In territorio Orritense». Evolution of the pre-Pyrenean population from late antiquity to the medieval world

ARQ001SOL-129-2022 (2022-2025)

Archaeology

The project «In territorio Orritense» proposes to analyze the changes that took place in the population, the forms of habitat, the exploitation of resources and the organization of the territory between late antiquity and the medieval world in the area of the Catalan Pre-Pyrenees through various archaeological interventions, including extensive excavations, surface visual surveys and geophysical surveys. It also includes the review of archival documentation and an important program of conservation, valorization and dissemination of the preserved remains.

Directed by Dr. Xavier Costa Badia – Ajuntament d’Isona i Conca Dellà, in collaboration with Universitat de Barcelona (LAMUB i SGR GEAH), Ajuntament de Tremp, Ajuntament de Talarn and Fundació Catalunya – La Pedrera.

The city of Aeso (Isona) and its territory in the Iberian and Roman times

CLT/2022/ARQ001SOLC/165 (2022-2025)

Archaeology

Project that includes archaeological excavations in the Roman city of Aeso (Isona) and the Roman villa of Llorís, studying and prospecting the territory and the review of the related museum collection.

Directed by Dr. Ignasi Garcès Estallo – Universitat de Barcelona (UB).

De Ipsos Kastellos: Habitat and mountain fortresses in Medieval Catalonia (S. IX-XIII)

ARQ001SOL-161-2022 (2022-2025)

Archaeology

The main objective of the «De Ipsos Kastellos» project is to investigate the genesis and evolution of early medieval habitats linked to the presence of castles and other fortification elements, in the mid-mountain areas of western Catalonia.

Directed by Dra. Marta Sancho Planas – Universitat de Barcelona (LAMUB), in collaboration with Orígens UNESCO Global Geopark, Consell Comarcal del Pallars Jussà, Ajuntament de Gavet de la Conca, Ajuntament de la Pobla de Segur, Ajuntament de Castell de Mur, Centre d’Estudis Lacetans and Universitat de Barcelona (SGR GEAH).

Population and lifestyles during the Upper Pleistocene and Holocene in the Eastern pre-Pyrenees

PID2019-104843GB-I00 (2020-2023)

Prehistory

Directed by Dr. Rafael Mora Torcal – Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

Human population in the eastern Pre-Pyrenees during the Upper Pleistocene and Holocene

CLT_2022_EXP_ARQ001SOLC_00000105 (2022-2026)

Prehistory

Directed by Dr. Rafael Mora Torcal and Dr. Jorge Martínez-Moreno – Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

Population and ways of life during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene in the eastern Pre-Pyrenees. Analysis of the Neolithic record of Cova Gran, Cova del Tabac and Font del Ros

Fundación Palarq. Convocatoria de analíticas 2022-2023

Prehistory

Directed by Dr. Rafael Mora Torcal, Dr. Jorge Martínez-Moreno and Dr. Paloma González Marcén – Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

Archeology Youth Campus – INVESTIGA.EDU

FCT-21-17031 (2022-2023)

Prehistory, Archaeology, Natural environment, Paleontology

Educational innovation program that aims to bring scientific research closer to educational centers.

Directed by Dr. Paloma González Marcén – Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

Competition, co-evolution and commensalism: the use of karst environments by humans and carnivores during the Middle Paleolithic

ARQ001SOL-183-2022 (2022-2025)

Quaternary, Human evolution, Paleontology, Archaeology

Based on the study of Neanderthal occupations in the Pallars caves, the main objective of the project aims to contribute to the reconstruction of the Paleolithic landscape in this geographical area, both from a geological and geomorphological and paleoecological point of view.

Directed by Dr. Jordi Rosell Ardèvol – IPHES-CERCA.

Pyrenees La Nuit: Pyrenean strategy for protecting and improving the quality of the night environment

EFA 233/16 PLN. POCTEFA (2014-2023)

Astronomy, Light Pollution

Pyrenees La Nuit aims to improve the quality of cross-border ecosystems by protecting and improving a very specific aspect: the Natural night Darkness. The rise in light pollution implies the loss of this natural value which is at the same time a determining factor in the state of biodiversity, ecosystems and people’s health. The final and main result is the development of a strategy for the protection and improvement of the night environment quality, which also serves as a reference and roadmap for other sites or areas that aim tackling this issue.

Research Institute: NICDO – Planetarium of Pamplona. Other Project associates: Consell Comarcal de la Noguera, Gestión Ambiental de Navarra S.A., Pic du Midi, Ciel Ouvert and CPIE 65.