About 12 thousand years ago the ice caps began to melt and the sea waters rose progressively until reaching a level identical to that of today. In Portugal, this process of environmental change was characterized by an increase in temperature and expansion of forests, keeping existing animal species. This period of Earths History is called Holocene, as opposed to the previous period, of glaciations, called Pleistocene.
It is during the beginning of the Holocene that several cultural changes take place, developing the period known as Mesolithic. In Portugal, this phase of human history began in Muge some 8,200 years ago and lasted for about a millennium, with a decisive environmental and cultural change. Hunter-gatherers from Central Portugal left the coastal strip and occupied the inland estuary of the Tagus River – the Magos, Muge and Fonte da Moça streams – developing new technologies and economic, social and symbolic structures.
The first shells in Muge were discovered in April 1863 by Carlos Ribeiro as part of the creation of the Geological Chart of Portugal.
This app uses QR-codes or the visitor geospatial location to activate tangible and intangible information about the life in MUGE.
Visitors can use their smartphones or tablets while visiting MUGE. When walking in MUGE, they are able to listen and/or watch information about this place they are traveling. Presented data is related to history.
The “MUGE” app also uses gamification to motivate participation. It is possible to assign multiple choice questions to a point of interest that can be used to test knowledge of the visitor and at the same time motivates the participant to win points to be in the ranking.