Archaeological Work in Macao

It has been more than 40 years since Macao’s archaeological works commenced in 1972, if the fieldwork conducted at Coloane at that time was taken as the first instance of archaeological investigation. In July 1972, Leal Senado, the city council of Macao at the time, invited amateur archaeologists from the Hong Kong Archaeological Society to conduct a field survey on Coloane Island. This marked the first archaeological investigation conducted in Macao. Since then, the Hac Sa (South) site in Coloane has undergone a series of excavation projects (1973, 1977, 1985 1994 and 1995) that uncovered plenty of remnants, which manifested the existence of human activities in Coloane as early as 6,000 years ago. Moreover, before and throughout the 1990s, the Cultural Institute of Macao carried out an extensive archaeological project at the site of the former St. Paul’s College and Mount Fortress, a vitally important work accomplished prior to Macao’s handover.

Since Macao’s handover, archaeological research has continued to intensify, with the Government's support, leading to the discovery of new archaeological sites on Macao Peninsula, and in Taipa and Coloane. The major projects undertaken after 1999 include the 'Site of the Stone Structure at the Underground Chamber of the Municipal Council Building' (2004-2005) located in the Museum of Taipa and Coloane History; the 'Archaeological Survey in Coloane' (2006-2007); the 'Archaeological Investigation and Excavation Project of the Ruins of St. Paul’s College',  for which members of the Institute of Archaeology under the Chinese Academy of Social Science were invited (2010-2012); the 'Excavation Project in No. 80, Rua das Estalagens' (2012-2015); and the 'Archaeological Project in Rua do Estaleiro in Coloane' (2014-2016), among others.

The  archaeological works undertaken in Macao are in a developing stage, reflecting the efforts and commitment made to safeguard Macao’s precious archaeological heritage, to raise people's awareness for the importance of archaeological research and to disseminate, among the local residents, the historical and cultural legacy of the place they are living in. The Macao Cultural Heritage Protection Law that took effect on March 1th, 2014, offers solid support to Macao’s archaeological undertakings by including a chapter focused on 'Archaeological Heritage' and its legal protection, a step which is, in itself, a milestone in Macao’s cultural heritage safeguarding work.

Overview of Archaeological Work in Macao