Society for Historical Archaeology

Society for Historical Archaeology
Name	Society for Historical Archaeology
Formation	1967
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	United States
Location	United States
Fields	Historical archaeology, cultural heritage, preservation

Society for Historical Archaeology is an international professional association focused on the study, preservation, and interpretation of historical archaeological resources associated with recent centuries. Founded in the late 1960s, the Society convenes scholars, practitioners, government officials, and avocationalists involved in investigations ranging from Jamestown, Virginia and Plymouth, Massachusetts to industrial sites in Manchester and plantation sites in Charleston, South Carolina. It operates alongside organizations such as the Archaeological Institute of America, the National Park Service, and the International Council on Monuments and Sites in promoting standards and best practices.

History

The Society emerged amid the revival of interest in post-medieval sites during the 1960s, a period marked by policies like the National Historic Preservation Act and events including the preservation response to the USS Monitor rediscovery. Founders drew inspiration from earlier bodies such as the Archaeological Institute of America and the Royal Archaeological Institute, while responding to landmark projects at Colonial Williamsburg, Fort Ticonderoga, and investigations related to the Transcontinental Railroad. Early leadership included academics and practitioners affiliated with Smithsonian Institution, Harvard University, University of York, and the University of Pennsylvania, who established the Society’s journal and annual meeting traditions. During the 1970s and 1980s the Society engaged with regulatory frameworks involving the National Register of Historic Places, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, and international dialogues at forums like ICOMOS and the UNESCO World Heritage program.

Mission and Organization

The Society’s mission aligns with stewardship practices endorsed by entities such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the World Archaeological Congress, and the Council for British Archaeology. Its governance structure includes an elected board and committees parallel to those of the American Anthropological Association and the Society of American Archivists, with sections dedicated to themes echoed in institutions like the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History and the American Battlefield Protection Program. Membership comprises professionals from universities such as Yale University, University of Leicester, and University of California, Berkeley, as well as staff from agencies like the Bureau of Land Management and the Historic England. The Society collaborates with museums including the Museum of London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Peabody Museum on curatorial and conservation guidelines.

Publications and Communications

The Society publishes a flagship peer-reviewed journal similar in stature to American Antiquity and Antiquity, plus newsletters and monograph series that complement work published by Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, and Routledge. Its periodicals disseminate research on sites such as St. Augustine, Florida, Port Royal, Jamaica, Potosí, and technical studies using methods developed at laboratories like those at the British Museum and the National Archaeological Research Institute. Editorial boards have featured scholars from University College London, Columbia University, and University of Cape Town, and the Society’s communications team liaises with agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Army Corps of Engineers on marine and terrestrial heritage reporting.

Conferences and Events

Annual conferences attract delegates in numbers comparable to meetings of the Society for American Archaeology, the European Association of Archaeologists, and the American Historical Association. Presentations often focus on case studies from New Amsterdam, Saint Augustine, Quebec City, New Orleans, Liverpool, and Cape Town, and draw speakers affiliated with institutions such as Brown University, Australian National University, and the University of Sydney. Field schools, workshops, and symposia have been co-hosted with the National Park Service, Historic Scotland, and the Canadian Conservation Institute, and complement international forums held in venues like Rome, Athens, and Lisbon.

Awards and Recognition

The Society confers awards that recognize research and conservation achievements similar to honors granted by the Society of Antiquaries of London, the Royal Historical Society, and the American Council of Learned Societies. Named prizes and fellowships have honored work connected to figures or sites such as Margaret Mead, Lewis Binford, John L. Cotter, Frederick Law Olmsted-related landscapes, and major projects at Jamestown Rediscovery and the Mary Rose. Collaborative awards or grants have been offered in partnership with institutions like the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Getty Conservation Institute.

Research and Preservation Initiatives

Research priorities span urban archaeology in places such as Boston and New York City, maritime archaeology involving wrecks like the HMS Victory and Mary Rose, plantation and enslavement studies tied to Monticello and Montpelier, and industrial archaeology in regions including Essen and Sheffield. The Society supports methodological advances in archaeometry practiced at centers such as Los Alamos National Laboratory and Oxford Archaeology, and preservation campaigns that echo efforts at Pompeii and Herculaneum. Collaborative projects have partnered with agencies including the National Park Service, Historic England, and the Australian Heritage Council to integrate heritage management and public access.

Education and Public Outreach

Educational programming mirrors outreach models used by the Smithsonian Institution, the British Museum, and Historic Royal Palaces, offering resources for teachers, students, and communities connected to sites like Jamestown, Plymouth Rock, and Port Royal. Public archaeology initiatives draw volunteers from groups similar to The Nautical Archaeology Society and the Council for British Archaeology, while lobbying and advocacy efforts coordinate with stakeholders including the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the European Heritage Alliance. The Society’s digital platforms disseminate multimedia content in concert with projects at institutions such as the Library of Congress, the British Library, and the Digital Archaeological Archive of Comparative Slavery.

Category:Archaeological organizations Category:Historical archaeology