Professional Associations in Archaeology (PAA)

Established: 1999
Last renewed: 2020
Contact:
Jaime Almansa Sanchez (almansasanchez@gmail.com)

At its Business Meeting in 1999, the European Association of Archaeologists' Executive Board re-appointed the Committee for another term. At that time the Association charged the now Community:

1. To identify the problems of professional archaeologists in Europe: common, particular to states
2. To share experiences and solutions
3. To advise the EAA on how it can lobby for its professional members (e.g. as advisor to the Council of Europe)
4. To advise EAA how it can raise the profile of archaeologists in Europe
5. To advise EAA how to encourage dialogue and shared perceptions – to raise standards by example
6. To advise EAA how to ensure that professional and ethical values can be used to strengthen national laws and transcend the values of the marketplace
7. Identify projects for European funding

The Community  has continued to work towards these objectives, reporting annually to the Annual Business Meeting and occasionally reporting progress in The European Archaeologist. The Community has met at each EAA Annual Meeting, organising round-tables to explore issues within its remit, and working in close partnership with the Community on Education and Training on key issues. It has also held inter-conference mettings.

In the recent 3 years the focus has been upon finidng ways to make archaeological organisations more aware of the existence and activities of other organisations as a first step towards better partnership working.  This dynamic direction is held in tension with another aspect of professional asociations and the Community returns this year to look at the nature and role of international ethics and values as uniting forces within archaeology.

Tasks

1. To organise a special interest group meetings annually
2. To discuss the outcomes of the group meeting at round tables held annually
3. To discuss the outcomes of research at the round tables
4. To circulate the results to the Committee and to report to the Business Meeting
5. To make recommendations to the Board
6. To update the web page related to the Committee activities

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