Archaeological and Paleontological Museum of Madrid

The Colegio Convento de la Madre de Dios (College-convent of the Mother of God), which today houses the Archaeological and Palaeontological Museum of the Community of Madrid, was founded in 1565 by María de Mendoza, daughter of the Counts of Mélito, as part of the University City of Alcalá, although the current construction dates from the 17th and 18th centuries, since the original building was too small and structurally deficient, although it is likely that the front of the convent of the last building, through which the museum is currently accessed, was reused from the previous one.On December 2, 1808, during the French invasion, the friars were expelled and the building was converted into a cavalry barracks for the Napoleonic troops, who were apparently responsible for the destruction of the main altar of the church and the looting of valuable objects. The monks returned in 1815, but in 1835 the convent was expropriated and passed into the hands of the City Council of Alcalá de Henares. The convent area was used as a prison until 1951, while the church housed the Bar Association, the courts and the Audiencia, and the building as a whole underwent profound modifications, such as the transfer of the front of the church, which overlooked the Plaza de las Bernardas (Las Bernardas Square), to Santiago Street.

In addition to its function of research and conservation of the archaeological heritage, it exhibits a permanent collection with a chronological and didactic tour: paleontological fossils, Palaeolithic and Neolithic tools, Bronze Age and Iron Age remains, an important collection from the Roman period (highlighting the mosaics) and elements of material culture from the ancient, medieval and modern periods, including archaeology from the industrial period. This collection is growing as new discoveries are made in the archaeological research being carried out in the Community of Madrid, so at the beginning of 2012 more than fifty pieces from recent excavations were added, including a phiále mesómphalos (or patera umbilicata in Latin) known as the Patera de Titulcia.

The museum holds temporary exhibitions on archaeological, paleontological and historical themes. Among its facilities is the Emeterio Cuadrado Library, of restricted use, specialized in Archaeology, Cartography of the Community of Madrid, Museology and Restoration.