Called Algarve Archaeological Association (AAA), but its members came from the four corners of the world. Founded in 1983, this association, unknown to many in the Algarve, has played an important role in supporting archeology in the region, including financing excavations. The archaeological works at Castelo de Alferce, in Monchique, are just another example.
Currently with around 100 members, the AAA is composed, in the vast majority, of foreigners who have chosen the Algarve to live. Jenny Compton, the current president, in conversation with the Sul Informação, recalls that «when the association was born, in the 80s, there was very little for foreign residents to do here and that was what motivated its creation».
This group of “pioneers” “was interested in the place where they lived, in the history of the Algarve, and knew that there would certainly be archaeological sites here. Learning and investigating the history of the Algarve were the objectives of creating the association».
Jenny Compton says that, over the years, the profile of the association's members has changed a little, because, “in the last 20 years, with easier travel, we already have many members who don't live here all the time. There are people who are not here in summer and come in winter».
Also «the Portuguese now speak more English and have started to attend our lectures», he emphasizes.
The lectures, which are normally in English, take place in two parts of the Algarve (Lagoa and São Brás de Alportel), «to reach everyone, because we have members from all over the region», continues the AAA president.
For these lectures, archeologists are invited to present the results of their excavations, many of them financed by the Associação Arqueológica do Algarve.
In fact, this role of patron of archaeological projects is one of the invisible facets of AAA, but one that is preponderant for those working in the area of archeology in the Algarve.
António Faustino Carvalho, archaeologist and professor at the University of Algarve, explains, in a conversation with our newspaper, that the Algarve academy and the Algarve Archeology Association have collaborated "in various circumstances", and that support for archaeological excavations in Cerro do Oiro, in Esgravatadouro and at Castelo de Alferce, in Monchique, is one of the most recent situations.
The association, explains António Faustino Carvalho, «provided direct support for these two projects and this was very good for the Municipality, which was relieved to pay for some tasks, and also for the project, which went well».
In addition, he continues, “there has been systematic support for our students, who are doing bachelor's, master's or even doctoral theses. Sometimes students need occasional financial assistance for field work or laboratory analysis. Then, they submit this request to the association and the association evaluates the most interesting projects and grants support. I find this remarkable».
António Faustino Carvalho also explains that «the only thing they ask in return is that, after the work is completed, a presentation is made to the association's members, and they end up having an afternoon of entertainment on heritage and archaeological issues. ».
But the members of the Archaeological Association of the Algarve also go to the field, on outings like that the Sul Informação followed, at the end of August. Alferce Castle and Esgravatadouro were the places visited this time. These real study visits “allow direct contact with scientific research”.
Jenny Compton points out that “the excavation at Alferce was the one we first met, we saw in the press. So we came to visit. We asked Fábio Capela [municipal archaeologist from Monchique] about the future of the excavations and he told the story. He said that the Chamber was going to buy the land. So we asked how they were going to finance the work and he replied that the municipality would help and that there would be volunteers. So we said that they could also apply for funding from us. All this even before Covid-19».
The archaeologist Fábio Capela was even surprised when Jenny Compton told him that there was financial availability to help with the excavations of Alferce Castle because, “when there is a lot of alms, the poor suspect. It was she who explained that they supported archaeological projects. However, as this is a project of the Chamber, they could not support it directly. Yes, they could support the volunteers, the university students».
That's what happened and, «as there was already another project in place, led by Professor António Faustino, we calculated the estimated costs with the volunteers we have here and asked for support just to feed these students. It was approved in an hour», concludes Fábio Capela.
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