SAfA 2025 AWARDS

The Society of Africanist Archaeologists (SAfA) presented the following career and institutional awards, book awards, and student poster and paper awards at tjhe 27^th 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
We shall not dig this tomb. Challenges, respect and non-disturbance techniques in the study of Islamic funerary spaces in Djibouti and Somaliland

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
Starch Grains and Plant Use in the African Past

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
Southern African Archaeology Student Society: A Collaborative Network for Young Heritage Specialists

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.