EAA - SAfA Cooperation
On 30 August 2017, at the Annual Meeting of the EAA at Maastricht, the European Association of Archaeologists and the Society of Africanist Archaeologists (SafA), represented by their presidents, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, recognizing a mutual interest in the field of African and European archaeology and associated disciplines and the importance of archaeological professional associations in promoting international collaboration.
SAfA is an organization of archaeologists, researchers from associated disciplines and others who share an interest in African archaeology and African societies. SAfA and EAA share the following purposes and scope:
- to promote the development of archaeological research and the exchange of archaeological information regarding Africa and Europe;
- to promote proper ethical and scientific standards for archaeological work in Africa and Europe;
- to promote the interests of professional archaeologists in Africa and Europe;
- to publicize and increase interest in African and European archaeology in the respective continents and in the entire world;
- to protect the archaeological heritage and fight for its preservation and integrity;
- to further promote respect and appreciation of the archaeological heritage;
- to promote co-operation with other organisations with similar aims.
Both organizations will share relevant information with each other, organize sessions at reciprocal conferences, promote European and African archaeology and work to address damage to archaeological heritage and the underlying processes that cause such devastation, both in war and in peacetime. Specifically, the Society of Africanist Archaeologists is organizing a “SafA Day” in the forthcoming EAA Annual Meeting in Barcelona (5-9 Sept 2018) under the terms of this Memorandum.