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The Society of Africanist Archaeologists (SAfA) is an organization of archaeologists, researchers from associated disciplines and others who share an interest in African archaeology and African societies. Our membership is international, with participation from Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, and is actively involved in research in many African countries.
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News & Information
The Society of Africanist Archaeologists (SAfA) presented the following career and institutional awards, book awards, and student poster and paper awards at tjhe 27th Biennial Meeting hosted by the University of Algarve, Faro, in Portugal (July 21-26, 2025). OUTSTANDING INSTITUTIONAL AWARD: British Institute in Eastern Africa In recognition of the Institute’s impactful contribution to African Archaeology and support of SAfA’s mission. INSTITUTIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD: Interdisciplinary Centre for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behaviour (ICArEHB) For its significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge in Africa. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD: Professor Elena A. A. Garcea of the University of Cassino and Southern Latium, Italy, in recognition of her selfless and impactful service to African Archaeology. BEST STUDENT POSTER AWARD Winner: ZooMS at Boomplaas Cave Presenter: Bacara Ashleigh Spruit Summary: The first application of Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) at Boomplaas Cave yielded important findings on faunal identification and collagen preservation. The poster was clear, well-structured, and scientifically innovative. Runners Up: Mid-Holocene Coastal Subsistence at Klasies River Presenter: Carl Holmes Summary: This poster offered a compelling analysis of shellfish exploitation and environmental change during the Later Stone Age. It was grounded in stratigraphic evidence and stood out for its clarity and palaeoenvironmental insight. Third Place: LSA Fauna at Diepkloof Rock Shelter Presenter: Humphrey Nyambiya Summary: This poster presented a thoughtful study of faunal assemblages at Diepkloof Rock Shelter, focusing on taphonomy, taxonomy, and forager subsistence strategies. The analysis was methodologically sound and clearly communicated. BEST STUDENT PAPER AWARD Winner: Arev Pelin Sümer Possible Late Persistence of the Iberomaurusian at Hattab II in Northern Morocco Awarded for the originality and relevance of the research, the quality of the interpretation, and a well-delivered presentation. Her presentation stood out for its exceptional clarity, structure, and engaging communication style — a performance that would capture any audience’s attention from start to finish. She demonstrated a strong sense of pedagogy, presenting her ideas clearly and convincingly. A special highlight was the fantastic use of short explanatory videos, which not only enhanced the audience’s understanding of the finds and methods but also gave a vivid sense of being alongside the researcher in the camp and the lab — making complex material both accessible and immersive. Runners Up: Carolina Cornax-Gómez Awarded for methodological creativity and critical reflection in approaching sensitive heritage contexts. Carolina’s research is a strong example of analytical rigor combined with a respectful and innovative approach to the study of sacred spaces. Her work offers a compelling model for how to engage with Islamic funerary landscapes when excavation is not permitted. Using non-invasive techniques—remote sensing, GIS, and systematic surveys—she highlights the intersection between cultural continuity and transformation, while proposing new perspectives on burial democratization and sacred geographies. The visual clarity and well-organized typologies further enhanced the strength of her presentation. This is a model that could inspire other scholars working in similar contexts. Third Place: Richard Kehinde Awarded for the clarity and depth of a well-structured study that uses starch grain analysis to explore ancient subsistence strategies in southwestern Nigeria. The research brings to light underrepresented crops such as sweet potato and tigernut, highlighting continuity in traditional foodways and the potential of grinding tools as cultural archives. Special Mention: Bacara Ashleigh Spruit Recognized for its impact beyond academia, this presentation showcased the creation and expansion of a student-led initiative aimed at building professional capacity and networks across the SADC region. Bacara presented a valuable model of African-led transformation and student-driven action with regional and long-term impact. BEST BOOK AWARD The Handbook of Pleistocene Archaeology of Africa: edited by Amanuel Beyin, David Wright, Jayne Wilkins, and Deborah Olszewksi. Springer, 2023.
This landmark volume represents a theoretical breakthrough by reframing Africa’s place in the global narratives of human evolution. The handbook showcases cutting-edge advances in methodology, from radiometric and luminescence dating to micromorphology and isotope analysis. Covering 128 chapters across 20 nations, the handbook consolidates a vast and fragmented record, yielding a major advance in our knowledge of Africa’s Pleistocene past. Its accessible format and global reach amplifies Africa’s voice in the international arena, effectively bringing African archaeology to the world stage. By integrating diverse regional traditions—Anglophone, Francophone, and beyond—it breaks down longstanding geographical and disciplinary divides. With contributions from many African scholars and a clear emphasis on accessibility for African institutions, the editors champion both scholarly excellence and local capacity-building. Finally, the handbook is a powerful call to preserve Africa’s deep history heritage, to ensure the continent’s archaeological legacy endures for generations. Congratulations to the entire editorial team and all contributing authors of this excellent achievement. Please join us in celebrating this outstanding achievement.
FINALIST AWARDS The Boundaries of Ancient Trade: Kings, Commoners, and the Aksumite Salt Trade in Ethiopia. By Helina Solomon Woldekiros. University Press of Colorado, 2023.
This groundbreaking work offers a significant theoretical advance by challenging centralized models of power in ancient African states, revealing how commoners and elites alike shaped the Aksumite salt trade. By seamlessly integrating archaeology and ethnoarchaeology, the book also champions the preservation and deep understanding of Africa’s rich trade heritage. La nécropole aux amant pétrifiés: Ruines mégalithiques des Wanar (Région de Kaffrine, Sénegal). Archaeopress, 2024. Edited by Luc Laporte, Matar Ndiaye, Adrien Delvoye, Jean-Paul Cros, Aziz Ballouche, Pierre Lamotte, Selim Djouad, Laurent Quesnel
This outstanding collective work, in two volumes, not only marks a major advance in our understanding of megalithic structures in West Africa, but also stands as a model of methodological innovation: combining various modern techniques, such as micromorphology to name only one, with detailed archaeological research. It is a landmark contribution that affirms the global significance of African archaeological heritage. AFRICAN CHRONOMETRIC DATING FUND (ACDF) 2024-25/ FONDS AFRICAIN DE DATATION CHRONOMETRIQUE (FADC) 2024-25 To all SAFA members and supporters of the ACDF, It is with great pleasure that the ACDF announces its radiocarbon dating funding awards for 2024-25. They include four (4) successful applicants from four different (4) countries among the fifteen (15) project applications received. We wish to thank the British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA) for its generous support that made these awards possible. C'est avec grand plaisir que l'ACDF annonce ses prix de financement de la datation au radiocarbone pour 2024-25. Parmi les quinze (15) demandes de projet reçues, quatre (4) candidats de quatre (4) pays différents ont été retenus. Nous tenons à remercier l'Institut britannique en Afrique de l'Est (BIEA) pour son soutien généreux qui a rendu ces prix possibles. Gninin Aïcha TOURE, Université de Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Côte d'Ivoire. Mduduzi I. MASEKO, Rock Art Research Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Théophile ZAGRE, Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Burkina Faso. Nabiha AOUADI, Head of History Department of the National Patrimony Institute, Tunisia. Congratulations to all! Félicitations à tous ! Philip de Barros ACDF Founding Chair ACDF Chair: Philip de Barros; co-chairs, Applications & Education Committee: Emma Loftus & Kolawole Adekola; co-chairs, Funding Committee: Philip de Barros & Jacques Aymeric; Tutorial authors: David Killick & Bernard Clist; PAA Representatives: Ibrahima Thiaw and Chioma Ngonadi; BIEA Associate Member: Kennedy Gitu.
RED successful applications in 2022-23 and/or 2023-24 from Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa GREEN – successful applications, Ghana (2023-24) and Sudan (2022-23, 2023-24) BLUE – 2024-25 first time applications from Tunisia, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, and Gabon Successful applications for 2024-25: Tunisia, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and South Africa GREY – Tanzania (2022-23), and Gabon (2024-25): one applications each (unsuccessful) | SAfA 2027 The 28th Biennial Meetings of the Society of Africanist Archaeologists will be held in July, 2027 - Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. More information coming soon. SAfA 2025-2027 Executive Board Student Representatives Nominations We are pleased to announce that the call for nominations for the student representatives to the SAfA Executive Board will be open from the 3rd of November to the 17th of November 2025. After collation of the nominee list, the elections will be run through electronic ballot from the 24th of November to the 5th of December 2025. The three selected representatives will serve for 2 years between 2025 and 2027. The role of the SAfA Student Committee is as follows: ● Planning and organising student-related activities at SAfA conferences and events including the SAfA student day. ● Serving on SAfA subcommittees that require student input. ● Representing student voices at meetings with the SAfA executive board. ● Promoting SAfA to students of African archaeology and encouraging student involvement and participation with SAfA. ● Organising elections for future SAfA student committees. Of the three positions, we are seeking (at least) one to be filled by a student who is from the African continent. The other roles will be open to people of all nationalities. Nominations must be made by someone other than the nominee themselves. The nominator shall fill out the attached short form (available in English and French), which requests the nominator's name, the nominee's name, the nominee’s nationality, student status, and current university, and a short statement on why the nominee is suitable for these positions. Please send the form to the following address: studentsrep@safarchaeology.org Only SAfA members (students in this case) can be nominated and can vote. If you're not a SAfA member you can register at this link: https://safarchaeology.org/Join Thank you very much. SAfA Student Committee (Nicolette, David, Abdumalik, and Humphrey) **************** SAfA Student Committee: Appel à candidatures Nous sommes heureux d'annoncer que l'appel à candidatures pour les représentants étudiants au conseil d'administration de la SAFA sera ouvert du 3 au 17 Novembre 2025. Après compilation de la liste des candidats, les élections se déroulent au scrutin électronique du 24 Novembre au 5 Décembre 2025. Les trois représentants sélectionnés siégeront pendant 2 ans entre 2025 et 2027. Les rôles du Comité des Étudiants de la SAfA sont les suivantes :
Au moins l’un des trois postes proposés doit être occupé par un/e étudiant/e d’origine africaine. Les autres postes sont ouverts aux personnes de toute nationalité. Les nominations doivent être faites par quelqu’un d’autre que le candidat lui-même. Le proposant/e doit remplir le court formulaire ci-joint qui comprend le nom du proposant/e, le nom du/de la candidat/e, sa nationalité, son statut d’étudiant/e et l’université actuelle, et un bref résumé des motifs de la nomination de cette personne. Merci d'envoyer le formulaire à l'adresse suivante : studentsrep@safarchaeology.org Le proposant/e et le candidat/e doivent tous les deux être des membres en règle de la SAfA (tous/toutes les deux des étudiants/es). Si vous n’êtes pas encore membre de la SAfA vous pouvez vous inscrire à l’adresse suivante : https://safarchaeology.org/Join Merci beaucoup. Le Comité des étudiants du SAfA (Nicolette, David, Abdumalik, et Humphrey) SAfA STATEMENT ON SUDAN The Society of Africanist Archaeologists (SAfA) condemns the current armed conflict and its devastating effects on the people and cultural heritage of Sudan. The destruction of lives and futures by the warring parties cannot be justified and has to stop. Armed conflict and its effects also endanger the irreplaceable archaeological and built heritage of the country, which constitutes an important part of the unique cultural legacy of Sudan and the identity of its people and their contributions to global history. We stand with our Sudanese colleagues and with local communities in their efforts to protect and promote the manifold cultural heritage of Sudan. We urge both parties to ensure the protection of heritage institutions and sites in line with international conventions. We support local, national and international efforts towards saving lives and the preservation of Sudan’s heritage, which forms an important facet of global heritage and cultural knowledge. Click on the following link from MAEASaM Project for mapping heritage at risk during the current conflict in Sudan: https://maeasam.org/mapping_heritage_risk_during_conflict_sudan/ |
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