THE SEA, an ever present resource in our collective history, is the place where we can salvage evidence that tells us stories of bygone times and the lives of many people. A tragic maritime story of planetary dimension is engraved in the collective imaginary, particularly in the European one, which starts during the Discoveries period. However, evidence rests on the bottom of the sea of many other shipwrecks that allow us to step back to the early days of navigation in pre-Classical Antiquity. Still regarded by many as an “underwater adventure”, Nautical and Underwater Archaeology involves the recovery, study and conservation of remains and contexts from the past found in maritime, river and interface environments. The history of Nautical and Underwater Archaeology in Portugal and that of the National Archaeological Museum have crossed paths from the mid-1980s onwards dueto the pioneer action of Francisco J. S. Alves. The legal and organisational structure of this activity has since become established, alongside the reinforcement of public awareness concerning its scientific framework, based exclusively on methods and techniques that are specific to Archaeology. This exhibition seeks to present the major discoveries of nautical and underwater archaeological activities undertaken in Portugal over the last few years – collections and their contexts – and the essential and permanent national and international programmes for the conservation and restoration of the assemblages recovered, thereby making a significant contribution towards the enhancement of this scientific discipline and raising awareness amongst our community towards the need for recording and safeguarding this cultural heritage.

António Carvalho Diretor of Museu Nacional de Arqueologia

Adolfo Silveira Scientific Curator