This collection consists of over 100,000 artifacts covering virtually all the chronological-cultural stages between the Palaeolithic and the Lusitanian-Roman period, concerning mining activity.

Among the 1600 artifacts displayed, it is worth to note the broad representation of the Lower and Middle Paleolithic, as well as one of the finest set of artifacts of the European Mesolithic (the shell middens of Muge) and also a wide representation of objects collected in various caves and megalithic monuments in our territory.

It is also worth to mention the set of artifacts related to the mining Roman activity (first to third century AC), particularly the bronze plate inscribed with Roman legislation and artifacts made in straw (basket, hat and sandal sole) used by the miners in the exploitation of the old mine of Vipasca (Aljustrel).

Initiated with the artifacts collected by Carlos Ribeiro in the region of Ota and Muge, in the nineteenth century, it covers several periods of significant incorporation of objects, being closely linked to great names in Portuguese archeology, namely  Joaquim Fontes, Henri Breuil, Abel Viana, Georges Zbyszewski, Afonso do Paço and O. da Veiga Ferreira.