Women in Archaeology in Portugal: Historiography, the Case of Costa Arthur and Some Reflections

Abstract

Studying the history of women in archaeology is a recent enterprise in Portuguese historiography. That being said, some steps in this direction were taken over the last 30 years, paving the way, often amid adverse circumstances, for the current endeavour. We thus begin by providing an initial overview of the subject, covering the situation up until 2017, the year the seminar that gives rise to this collective book was held. This is followed by a brief presentation of an example of historiographical analysis made possible thanks to the identification of primary sources that allow us to recover relevant names of archaeology in Portugal. Finally, we reflect in detail on the specificities of the history of women in archaeology in Portugal, drawing comparisons with the situations in other countries and seeking to identify paths that will finally allow us to affirm its place within the national academic framework.