Museu Arqueológico Municipal José Monteiro

The Museu Arqueológico José Monteiro is a museum situated in the city of Fundão, Portugal. It is named after José Alves Monteiro, a dedicated researcher and archaeologist from Fundão, who was also its first curator. The museum was initially established as the Municipal Museum of Fundão in 1942.

Collection of the Museum

The museum's collection is diverse, encompassing both ethnographic and archaeological artifacts. However, it is the epigraphic component of the collection that sets it apart. This includes votive monuments dedicated to various indigenous and Roman deities, such as Aetius, Bandis Vorteaceo, Quangueio, and Jupiter. Notably, it also houses the Terminus Augustalis, a unique artifact in Portuguese museums.

Museum Building and Location

The Museu Arqueológico José Monteiro is housed in the Solar Taborda d’Elvas, a Baroque building that was constructed on top of 16th-century structures. This building is located in Rua da Cale, one of the oldest and most traditional streets in Fundão. The architectural project, combined with the museum plan, sought to respect the original volume of the building, the identity of the facade, and some emblematic structures with the most modern museum requirements.