Colecções de Arqueologia em Autarquias: reflexões a partir de um inquérito promovido pela APA

In 2002, the Professional Association of Archaeologists made a survey focussing the archaeological activity carried out by the Portuguese municipalities. Although this survey aimed to evaluate the several contexts of the exercise of Archaeology in the municipalities, the crossing of the different answers allows obtaining a very approximate representation of how the municipalities manage the archaeological assemblages they have under their responsibility. Thus, we present a quantitative analysis of the presence of archaeological assemblages in the municipalities and its relation to the promotion of actions concerning the management of the archaeological heritage, and we characterize those assemblages in relation to their origin and chronology, as well as their integration in the institutions that take care of them. With regard to the means available for the management of those assemblages, we present data corresponding to personnel, facilities and equipments dedicated to the archaeological activity in the municipalities examined, in addition to the class of actions undertaken in relation to the assemblages. An evaluation of the regional distribution of municipal archaeological assemblages and the existence of resources for their management is also presented. The analysis of this data is accompanied by some reflections on the management of archaeological assemblages in municipal context, discussing some questions that concern to the supervision of that activity, as now in Portugal the structure of public management for the archaeological heritage is in process of reorganization