Arkansas Archeological Society
Click Here for the 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting
Dear A.A.S. Members,
In the interest of keeping everyone safe during this long nightmare of a pandemic, the executive board of the Society has voted unanimously to postpone the in person annual meeting until the fall of 2021. However, we are now planning a virtual version of this year’s meeting in order to deal with some important issues that cannot wait until next year and to provide an opportunity to those wishing to make presentations a chance to do so online.
You will be asked to review and vote on some important legal documents involving the incorporation of the Society. These documents will be posted on the Society’s website, and you will be given a chance to ask questions about them in an online Zoom session, date to be announced later. Following this you will be sent a ballot and asked to vote by mail on these changes to the Society’s structure and also to vote on new officers and Board of Advisors members.
We will also be accepting nominations for awards submitted by August 15. The deadline for ARF grant submissions for this year will be September 1.
Unfortunately, these elements of a virtual meeting cannot provide the camaraderie of an actual meeting. We will greatly miss seeing and visiting with all of you, but we hope to see you next year. Stay safe and let us hear from you on these important issues.
Sincerely,
The Executive Board of the Arkansas Archeological Society
Call for Virtual Papers/Presentations
Papers for online presentations are now being sought for the virtual Annual Meeting, with the same time limit of 20 minutes. There is no limit to the number of papers. Topics on anything archeological, both prehistoric and historic, are welcome. To be considered, submit the title and a brief description to Marilyn Knapp at mxj02@uark.edu by September 1. All presentations must be uploaded to the Society’s public YouTube channel by September 18.
After your title and description for your presentation are received, Glen Akridge will contact you with further instructions on how to create a video from your PowerPoint presentation and upload your video to YouTube. If your presentation contains possible sensitive images, please note that in your description and add a slide at the beginning of the presentation with the following statement: This presentation may contain culturally sensitive images. The Society’s YouTube channel is public, so be careful. Remember that images of human remains and specific site location information are prohibited.
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 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, jewelry, 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.
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.
