ABOUT THE AEA

The Association for Environmental Archaeology (AEA) seeks to promote environmental archaeology worldwide and provide a voice to those working within the discipline, inputting into debates and polices that affect the field, and demonstrating the relevance of environmental archaeology to people and the planet. 

The Association was formed in 1979 by a group of environmental archaeologists based at the University of London, to provide a wide-ranging means of communication between those working in environmental archaeology and related subjects. Members’ interests range from human osteology and zooarchaeology, to palaeoecology and geoarchaeology, through to archaeobotany and the study of foodways, to landscape history and biocultural heritage. 

Membership benefits

• Digital and physical subscription to the Association’s journal Environmental Archaeology (EA), including free online access to the back catalogue.
• Subscription to the Association’s quarterly Newsletter and members’ JiscMail list. 
• Eligibility to apply to our research grants. 
• Reduced registration fees/no fees for attendance at AEA conferences and meetings.
• Eligibility to apply for conference bursaries to help cover travel and accommodation costs for attendance at AEA annual conferences.
• Reduced prices on selected books and other publications.

Wider benefits

The Association awards a number of prizes, including the John Evans dissertation prize, the Don Brothwell prize and archaeological society membership awards. 

We also sponsor webinars and seminars covering relevant topics.

Conferences

The AEA holds two open meetings annually. 

There is a 1-2 day meeting earlier in the year, at which short, informal papers are presented on specific topics; reports on work in progress, especially by early career researchers, are particularly encouraged.

Papers given at the annual conference later in the year are more substantial and usually address  a broad theme.  

An international association

The 2020 membership numbers around 300, based in 28 countries. While 58% of members  are currently based in the UK, we have a growing international community. Members includes people working in academia, the commercial and voluntary sectors, as well as staff working for government organisations and in museums. Anyone with an interest in environmental archaeology can join the Association.