About TAAS
Scope, scientific rationale, thematic axes, and the format of a workshop in the strict sense — small, discussion-oriented, and slow by design.
Learn more4th TAAS · Porto Alegre, Brazil
4th Workshop on Actualistic Taphonomy in South America
A science to a world in changes
- Dates12–15 May 2027
- VenueCentro Cultural, UFRGS
- CityPorto Alegre, Brazil
- FormatOn-site workshop
Welcome
Four editions of one conversation on how records are made
The Workshop on Actualistic Taphonomy in South America (TAAS) brings together researchers and students interested in the processes that shape and preserve the palaeontological and archaeological records.
Across four editions the meeting has consolidated a South American perspective on actualistic taphonomy — integrating field research, experimental approaches, and dialogue among research groups across the continent. From coastal plains and lagoons to sambaquis and Patagonian rivers, the region offers a natural laboratory for asking how biological remains become the record we read.
The fourth edition returns to Brazil, hosted at the Centro Cultural of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, in Porto Alegre, from 12 to 15 May 2027.
Timeline
Important dates
Submission opens in November 2026. The programme is published after notification of acceptance.
- Abstract submission opens
- Abstract submission deadline
- Notification of acceptance
- Registration deadline
- Workshop · Porto Alegre
Explore
The workshop, its history, and its place
History
From a session in Mendoza in 2014 to Porto Alegre in 2027 — the meetings, the publications that came out of them, and how the field grew.
Read the historyVenue & travel
How to reach the Centro Cultural, where to stay, and what to expect from Porto Alegre in May — from the airport to the coastal field sites.
Plan your tripA respectful scientific environment. All participants agree to follow the Code of Conduct. Concerns can be reported confidentially to taas2027@ufrgs.br.
Support
An initiative of the South American School of Taphonomy
TAAS is institutionally supported by the Centro de Estudos Costeiros, Limnológicos e Marinhos (CECLIMAR) of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Previous editions have been funded by CAPES and CNPq.
Participation in the 4th TAAS is free of charge. Registration is required for planning and certification purposes.
