Since Academician Cheng-Hwa Tsang of the Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica, accepted a mission from the National Science Council (NSC, now Ministry of Science and Technology, MOST) to investigate the local archaeological sites in December 1995, over 82 sites, including those in the Tainan Science Park Special Zone and Tree Valley Park, have been found. Among them, the National Museum of Prehistory (NMP) engaged in the rescue excavation of 32 sites dating back to prehistoric Taiwan over a time span of 4,500 years, i.e., around 5,000-300 years BP, and covering six major cultures: the Tapenkeng Culture, the Niuchoutzu Culture, the Tahu Culture, the Niaosung Culture, the Siraya Culture, and recent Han-Chinese Culture.

To preserve the valuable cultural assets unearthed from the historical sites during the rescue excavation because of the development of the Tainan Science Park, the NSC and the Tainan City Government (TNCG) propose the construction of a museum in 2002. In April 2003, the Ministry of Education (MOE) designated the NMP to keep custody of the artifacts unearthed from the Tainan Science Park and engage in the museum construction project. In April 2003-December 2004, after holding five meetings on “discussions on the feasibility and matters relating to the construction of the NMP Tainan Branch for preserving artifacts unearthed from the Southern Taiwan Science Park(STSP)”, the MOE agreed to combine the new unit as a NMP branch.

Through join efforts of difference parties, the Executive Yuan eventually agreed with the proposal in 2007 and later approved a budget of NT$1.5 billion and the site of 2.44 hectares for the NMP Tainan Branch located inside the Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) in February 2008.

• 2012 The NMP was reassigned to the Ministry of Culture.
• June 2014 Construction of the NMP Tainan Branch began.
• Dec 2017 Construction of the NMP Tainan Branch was completed and the building use permit was acquired.
• Dec 2018 Officially called the “Museum of Archaeology, Tainan Branch of National Museum of Prehistory”, and trial operations began.
• Oct 19, 2019 Official operations began.

(1) Properly preserve and study cultural assets unearthed from the STSP.
(2) Exhibit artifacts unearthed from the STSP.
(3) Promote environmental and homeland culture education.
(4) Provide locals with a quality venue for knowledge, leisure, and tourism.
(5) Expand the services and functions of the NMP.