Unlike its founding organizations, the Register of Professional Archaeologists is not just a membership society. It focuses on the promotion and maintenance of professional standards in archaeology and the registration of qualified archaeologists. Our founding organizations endorse the mission of the Register of Professional Archaeologists, encourage their qualified members to register, and provide annual financial support.

Please take a moment to read more about our founders below. We welcome you to visit each of their websites.

THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (AAA) – ARCHAEOLOGY DIVISION

The Archaeology Division of the American Anthropological Association was founded in 1983 to advance the study of archaeology as an aspect of anthropology, to provide a forum for members to discuss issues central to the development of archaeology, and to foster the publication and communication of the results of archaeological research and interpretations to anthropologists, to other scholars, and to the general public. Members of the Archaeology Division receive the AAA flagship journal, the American Anthropologist, and publications in the Archaeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association series.

THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA (AIA)

The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) has been dedicated to the encouragement and support of archaeological research and publication and to the protection of the world’s cultural heritage for more than a century. A non-profit cultural and educational organization chartered by the U.S. Congress, it is the oldest and largest archaeological organization in North America, with more than 11,000 members around the world.

The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) promotes archaeological inquiry and public understanding of the material record of the human past to foster an appreciation of diverse cultures and our shared humanity. The AIA supports archaeologists, their research and its dissemination, and the ethical practice of archaeology. The AIA educates people of all ages about the significance of archaeological discovery and advocates for the preservation of the world’s archaeological heritage. Founded in 1879, the AIA has nearly 200,000 members and more than 100 local societies in the United States, Canada, and overseas. The AIA publishes Archaeology Magazine and the American Journal of Archaeology.

THE SOCIETY FOR AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY (SAA)

The Society for American Archaeology (SAA) is an international organization dedicated to the research, interpretation, and protection of the archaeological heritage of the Americas. With more than 7,200 members, the society represents professional, student, and avocational archaeologists working in a variety of settings including government agencies, colleges and universities, museums, and the private sector.

Since its inception in 1934, SAA has endeavored to stimulate interest and research in American archaeology; advocate and aid in the conservation of archaeological resources; encourage public access to and appreciation of archaeology; oppose all looting of sites and the purchase and sale of looted archaeological materials; and serve as a bond among those interested in the archaeology of the Americas.

THE SOCIETY FOR HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY (SHA)

Formed in 1967, the Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA) is the largest scholarly group concerned with the archaeology of the modern world (A.D. 1400-present). The main focus of the society is the era since the beginning of European exploration. SHA promotes scholarly research and the dissemination of knowledge concerning historical archaeology. The society is specifically concerned with the identification, excavation, interpretation, and conservation of sites and materials on land and underwater. Geographically the society emphasizes the New World, but also includes European exploration and settlement in Africa, Asia, and Oceania.