This Symposium proposes an approach to the technology and industrial heritage of the Luso-Brazilian world. Therefore, it intends at construing the theme of archaeology and history of technology and industrial knowledge ranging from the XVI to the XXI centuries, taking into consideration the common roots of Brazil and Portugal. In this sense, it will be possible to investigate the exchange and adaptation of technologies and, on the other hand, the material and immaterial results of these processes in the industrial heritage, including techniques and objects in the workplace as well as the professional and non-professional knowledge of engineers, artisans and workforce.

The overseas expansion of Portugal, which began with the capture of the North African town of Ceuta in 1415, was followed by the exploration encouraged by Infante Henrique (Prince Henry the Navigator) - including the West Coast of Africa, the voyage to India by Vasco da Gama and the discovery of Brazil in 1500. Such a massive colonial empire, maintained longer than most other European colonizing countries resulted that, from South America to Africa to Asia, people who had no native cultures nor origins share a common language, heritage and common cultural traits. This Symposium is particularly interested in investigating the exchange and transformation of technology along the centuries and the resulting knowledge that can be considered, in the 21st century, a common heritage. This common heritage encompasses the study of the material culture, with a focus on industry and work, recording and understanding the remains of industrialization, including the technology, transport and buildings associated with manufacture or raw material production. Such work encompasses economics and the social history, traditional archaeology, material and immaterial heritage, architecture and engineering and history of technologies and of techniques, always in a context of exchange, adaptation and innovation.