The Associação dos Arqueólogos Portugueses (Association of Portuguese Archaeologists) is the oldest association which defends the heritage in Portugal and is responsible for the Museu Arqueológico do Carmo (Carmo Archaeological Museum), the country’s first museum of Art and Archaeology. It was founded in 1863, with the name Associação dos Architectos Civis Portugueses, by Joaquim Possidónio Narciso da Silva, who presided over their fortunes until 1896, the year he died, together with another seven architects (João Pires da Fonte, José da Costa Sequeira, Feliciano de Sousa Correia, Manuel José de Oliveira da Cruz, Paulo José Ferreira da Costa, Veríssimo José da Costa and Valentim José Correia). It began as a professional association, but rapidly began to admit archaeologists and was to be called the Real Associação dos Architectos Civis e Archeólogos Portugueses (Royal Association of Portuguese Civil Architects and Archaeologists). In 1911, after the departure of the architects, who had founded the Society of Portuguese Architects (Sociedade dos Arquitectos Portugueses), in 1902,and the Establishment of the Republic, the Association adopted its present name.

During its rich history, the Associação dos Arqueólogos Portugueses brought together the country’s most illustrious archaeologists. In 1896, its founder and chairman was succeeded by the Count of S. Januário, Peer of the Realm, Governor of India, Macau and Timor, and Plenipotentiary Minister in China, Japan and the Kingdom of Siam (Thailand today). Carlos Ribeiro, Estácio da Veiga, Martins Sarmento, Gabriel Pereira, Leite de Vasconcelos, Alexandre Herculano or Júlio de Castilho are the names which marked the first half century of the Association’s life, and enjoyed immense prestige between the end of Constitutional Monarchy and the beginning of what was called the “New State” (the fascist dictatorship). In the 1960’s, with Fernando de Almeida as chairman, the life of the association was revitalised, opened its doors to a new generation of archaeologists and held a series of Archaeological conferences, activities which were continued by his successor, Eduardo da Cunha Serrão.

The Museu Arqueológico do Carmo was closed in 1995, when the new lines of the Lisbon Underground were constructed. The occasion was an opportunity to totally restore the museum area, which took place at the same time as a fresh impetus for the association’s activities. During the last decade, the sections of Pre-History and History have promoted talks, meetings, debates and congresses on the most varied themes of current research. The committees of Heraldry and Olissiponense Studies have also contributed to the development of knowledge in their respective areas. The management and the Museu Arqueológico do Carmo have also taken other forms of visible action, with the annual publication of the Revista Arqueologia e História (Magazine of Archaeology and History), as well as a significant series of initiatives, of note being the Festa da Arqueologia (Festival of Archaeology), as well as services and publications about the Museum.