The Annual Meeting

2025 Annual Meeting

Click Here for the Online Registration Form

When: Friday, September 26 – Sunday, September 28

Where: Bismarck, AR at DeGray Lake Resort State Park

Special Room Rate: $125.00 per night

Book online at https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/degray-lake-resort-state-park (Scroll to the bottom of the page for room availability)

Use the GROUP ID #984964 to book on DeGray.com
(or) Call the Lodge Front Desk at 501-865-5851

Keynote Speaker: Ms. Alaina Tahlate, Caddo Nation Language Preservationist

Sunday Tour: Caddo Center at Henderson State University

Tentative Schedule

(Times and locations are subject to change; please check your program upon arrival.)

Friday, September 26
1:00p – 9:00p Registration (Convention Center Hallway, past restaurant)

3:00p – 4:30p Society Executive Board Meeting (Heron Room)
6:00p – 9:00p Reception & Poster Session (Eagle Room)

Saturday, September 27
8:00a ARF Silent Auction & Raffle Sales (DeGray Room)

8:00a Registration (Convention Center Hallway)

8:30a – 10:20a Papers and Presentations (Caddo/Ouachita Room)

10:20a – 11:30a Business Meeting: Presentation of Awards & Certificates (Caddo/Ouachita Room)

11:30a – 1:00p Lunch on your own – There are many options to choose from nearby!

1:00p – 3:20p Papers and Presentations (Caddo/Ouachita Room)

3:30p Drawing for ARF Raffle (DeGray Room)

3:40p ARF Silent Auction Ends (DeGray Room)

4:00p – 5:00p Board of Advisors Meeting (Heron Room)

5:00p – 6:00p Chapter Leadership Meeting (Heron Room)

6:00p – 7:00p Site Stewardship Meeting (Heron Room)

7:00p Banquet (Ouachita/DeGray Room)
8:00p Keynote Address by Ms. Alaina Tahlate, Language Preservationist, Caddo Nation (Ouachita/DeGray Room)

Sunday, September 28
9:30a Tour of Caddo Center on HSU Campus – Meet at Building Entrance

What typically happens at the Annual Meeting?

Each year, on or near the last weekend of September, the Arkansas Archeological Society holds its Annual Meeting. Besides the opportunity to visit with friends and have a great time, the meeting offers a variety of activities, as follows:

Friday evening kicks off the festivities with a reception, featuring hors d’oeuvres, and a poster session for registered attendees.

On Saturday, papers on current archeological topics are presented by professional and amateur archeologists from throughout Arkansas, in a 20-minute format, usually with slides. The Annual Business Meeting is held Saturday morning before and includes the presentation of certificates of appreciation and other special awards (Award Nomination Form). After the lunch break, more papers are presented.

In addition, a highlight of the meeting is the Archeological Research Fund (ARF) Silent Auction and Raffle. Many wonderful items, including books, artwork, posters, t-shirts, etc., are donated to raise money for the research fund. In addition to the Silent Auction, books, t-shirts, and other items are usually available for purchase. The Archeological Research Fund (ARF) provides money not available from other sources for archeological projects in Arkansas. Support from the Research Fund can help with different aspects of archeological research, such as radiocarbon analysis of charred material for dating or identification of small seeds or bones by specialists. The deadline for submissions to the ARF committee is August 29, 2025. Please send submissions to Jessica Cogburn at jessica.cogburn@arkansas.gov.

A banquet is held Saturday evening and after the dinner, a Keynote Speaker—a specially selected archeologist from outside Arkansas—makes a presentation on his or her work.

Sunday morning usually offers museum tours or tours to archeological sites.

FOR A LIST OF PAST MEETINGS, CLICK HERE.

THANK YOU to our sponsors

Platinum

Gold

Silver

Donations

Sorry. This form is no longer available.