NYSAA News

New York State Archaeological Association
107th Annual Meeting
April 17-19, 2026

ROCHESTER AIRPORT MARRIOTT
1890 West Ridge Rd, Rochester, NY, 14615

The 2026 NYSAA conference will be held in Rochester, NY, April 17-19. Anyone interested in presenting a paper or poster session pertaining to the archaeology of New York and adjoining regions, including the Niagara region of Ontario, is welcome to submit a paper as well as a themed session. Because of the rich abolitionist history of Rochester, one session will be offered on African American archaeology in upstate New York. Other suggested themes include papers on the Erie Canal (200th anniversary), the Revolutionary War (225th anniversary), and the Haudenosaunee. Presentations should be 20 minutes in length. Easels will be provided for posters, which can be any size up to 48” x 60”.

The lead presenter of either a paper or a poster must be a member of the NYSAA. To join a chapter near you, visit nysarchaeology.org/nysaa/join-nysaa/. If you do not live near a chapter, you may join as an At-Large member (Individual = $20, Student = $10). Individuals are limited to one paper or poster, although individuals may co-author multiple papers. Please send your title, abstract (under 150 words), and session if themed, affiliation (chapter and/or institution), and contact information to Sherene Bauger, Program Chair at sbb8@cornell.edu.

Conference details will be provided in the January call for papers.

Introducing The Heritage Education Network. This website is a resource for archaeologists and others involved in educating about the past. List other organizations NYSAA received an invitation to take in the Lego Challenge. The Heritage Education Network  put together educational resources that can be found here:

The Heritage Education Network

The Robert E. Funk Memorial Archaeology Foundation, Inc., announces its 2025-2026 grant application and funding cycle for research grants of up to $2,500.  The Funk Foundation supports archaeological research on New York State.  Grants can be used to support small stand-alone archaeological research projects or studies that are parts of larger investigations.  Previous Funk Foundation grants have funded a range of research projects including artifact collections studies, faunal analysis, radiocarbon dating, artifact petrography, stone tool microwear, remote sensing, and isotopic and geochemical analyses.

Grant applications for the 2025-2026 funding cycle must be received by December 1, 2025.  Applications will be reviewed in a competitive process by the Funk Foundation Board of Directors.  Award decisions will be made by December 22, 2025.  Guidelines and format for grant applications can be found at www.funkfoundation.org. We strongly encourage prospective grant applicants to contact the Board President, Dr. Jonathan Lothrop, to discuss their proposed research before preparing and submitting a grant application: Jonathan.Lothrop@NYSED.Gov or (518) 486-2992.

The Robert E. Funk Memorial Archaeology Foundation, Inc., is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to supporting archaeological research on the New York region by professional, student, and avocational archaeologists. 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

October 2025

The New York Society of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIANYS) and the Metropolitan Chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association (NYSAA) are offering a $1,500 scholarship to a student in support of archival, collections or field-based research, scientific analysis or a public outreach project primarily focused on New York City-based archaeology. The scholarship program is administered and overseen by both organizations working in collaboration for the second time.

ELIGIBILITY AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• To be eligible the student must be pursuing a relevant course of study and research that involves the archaeology of New York City.

• We will accept applications from undergraduate or graduate students, enrolled in an accredited US or Canadian college or university, who are preparing a thesis or doctoral dissertation, or are engaged in independent research connected to the student’s academic studies.

• The $1,500 scholarship is paid directly to the student in one lump sum at or near the initiation of the student’s qualifying activities. The scholarship is not a salary, is not offered in lieu of a salary, as additional income or as a supplemental source of funding for a university or a Cultural Resource Management project. It is intended to support the costs associated with conducting the research project.

APPLICATION PROCESS (Online only)

• Faculty members from colleges and universities across the USA and Canada are asked to support their student applicants with a brief letter of endorsement. Faculty may endorse more than one student applicant. The faculty endorsement link can be found here: https://forms.gle/Md3F1PRrGJVpRH9L9

• Nominated students will submit an application along with a narrative description of the project in 500 words or less, a budget that identifies anticipated project-related expenses and a project timeline. The application should be accompanied by a transcript of the student’s academic record. The online application can be accessed through this link: https://forms.gle/jPH57zAptWN5SUXj6

Applications are due by November 21st. The recipient of the scholarship will be selected by December 19th. The scholarship will be disbursed when the student begins the research, no earlier than the first quarter of the new year.

• The recipient will be chosen by a committee comprised of four academic board members — two from the Metropolitan Chapter of the NYSAA and two from the AIANYS.

ACTIVITIES & BENEFITS

• At the conclusion of the project, the student will make a presentation to both organizations, either individually or jointly. The student will also submit a brief article which will be published in each organization’s newsletter.

• Periodic reports will only be required if there is an unforeseen delay that affects the project’s timeline. The Committee reserves the right to request an update on the student’s work at any point during the project timeline. The Committee will also monitor the project’s progress, including the expenses incurred, as appropriate.

• The student will be given a complimentary one-year student membership in AIA and NYSAA, provided and paid for by the respective organizations.

New York State Archaeological Association

106th Annual Meeting
May 2-4, 2025
Niagara Riverside Resort
7001 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls, New York, 14304

This is a call for anyone interested in presenting a paper or poster pertaining to the archaeology of New York and adjoining regions including the Niagara region of Ontario. Presentations should be 20 minutes in length. Easels will be provided for posters which can be of any size up to 48″ x 60″. Presenters must be members of the NYSAA. To join a chapter near you, visit nysarchaeology.org/nysaa/join-nysaa/. If you do not live near a chapter, you may join as an At-Large member (Individual = $20, Student = $10). On co-authored papers/posters, the lead author must be a member. Individuals are limited to one paper or poster, although individuals may co-author multiple papers.

We now have 32 papers either submitted or promised. If we reach our limit of 46, paper submissions will be closed. Submissions along with registration must be received by April 1. 

Registration information will be available online at nysarchaeology.org/conference Please send your title, abstract (under 200 words), affiliation (chapter and/or institution), and contact information to Bill Engelbrecht, engelbwe@gmail.com. Due to a strong initial response, we anticipate double sessions for all or part of the conference.

The Frederick Houghton Chapter is proud to host the 106th annual meeting of the New York State Archaeological Association and the annual Spring meeting of the New York Archaeological Council, May 2 – 4, 2025. NYAC will meet on Friday May 2. The NYSAA annual business meeting will be Friday evening, with paper presentations during the day on Saturday and Sunday morning. The annual banquet, awards ceremony, and banquet speaker will be Saturday evening. Our banquet speaker is Kelly Berliner, Eastern Regional Director of the Archaeological Conservancy. All events will be at the Niagara Riverside Resort, 7001 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls, NY.

  2025 Call for Papers & Registration

  NYSAA Annual Meeting Final Program & Abstracts

  Conference Page

Updated: April 10, 2025

The French & Indian War Society at Lake George’s will sponsor four enrichment workshops in 2025 at the Fort William Henry Museum (48 Canada St. Lake George, NY). The program also serves as a fund raiser for the not-for-profit society. Classes are “in person” and at the moment, no Zoom. Participants shall receive a certificate of attendance. Cost per workshop is $30 ($15 for Society members). Preregistration is required. The attachment has the dates and titles of the workshops as well s the registration form.

French & Indian War Society at Lake George Workshop Registration

Reminder: the deadline for applying for the $1,500 Daniel H. Weiskotten Scholarship offered by the William Beauchamp Chapter, and the New York State Archaeological Association is fast approaching. All application materials must be postmarked no later than April 4th, 2025. 

We are pleased to share that 2025 marks our 36th year of awarding a scholarship to an outstanding New York State student who plans to pursue a career in archaeology.

We take pride in the fact that to date we have awarded over $30,000 in scholarships to worthy candidates. The 2025 award has been increased to $1,500.00!

Contributing members of the New York State Archaeological Association as well as the members of the William M. Beauchamp Chapter in Syracuse, NY have been most generous in funding this scholarship program and enabling us to continue this tradition.

We ask you to promote this scholarship to your worthy and qualified undergraduate students. Please encourage them to make a copy of the announcement poster and to apply for this generous scholarship without delay. The deadline for filing is April 4th, 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 315-345-5094. 

Thanks so much for your enthusiastic endorsement of this important program.
Beauchamp Scholarship 2025 Announcement

Michael Beardsley

Chairperson, Daniel H. Weiskotten Scholarship Program

William Beauchamp Chapter, NYSAA

The Metropolitan Chapter is partnering with the AIA-NY Society to create a joint scholarship for student research on the archaeology of New York City. The specifics of the scholarship, including links to the application, are detailed below. The scholarship recipient will receive a one-year NYSAA membership to be paid by the MET Chapter and is expected to produce a short article that will appear in both the AIA-NY Society and NYSSA newsletters. At present, the scholarship is a one-time thing. However, the scholarship could become an annual event if there is sufficient interest and it proves a fruitful collaboration. Submitted by Jessica and Meredith Linn, Co-Presidents of the Metropolitan Chapter, New York State Archaeological Association.

The New York Society of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIANYS) and the Metropolitan Chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association (NYSAA) are offering a $1,500 scholarship to a student in support of archival, collections or field-based research, scientific analysis or a public outreach project primarily focused on New York City-based archaeology. The scholarship program is administered and overseen by both organizations working in collaboration for the first time.

We are pleased to announce a new joint scholarship for research

Announcing the Funk Foundation’s 2024-25 Research Grant Cycle

The Robert E. Funk Memorial Archaeology Foundation, Inc., announces its 2024-2025 grant application and funding cycle for research grants of up to $2,500. The Funk Foundation supports archaeological research conducted in New York State or on archaeological collections from New York State. Grants can be used to support small stand-alone archaeological research projects or studies that are parts of larger investigations. Previous Funk Foundation grants have funded a range of research projects including artifact collections studies, faunal analysis, radiocarbon dating, artifact petrography, stone tool microwear, remote sensing, and isotopic and geochemical analyses.

Grant applications for the 2024-2025 funding cycle must be received by October 15, 2024. Applications will be reviewed in a competitive process by the Funk Foundation Board of Directors. Award decisions will be made by November 15, 2024. Guidelines and format for grant applications can be found at www.funkfoundation.org. For additional questions, please email Jon Lothrop, President, Funk Foundation Board of Directors, at Jonathan.Lothrop@NYSED.Gov or call (518) 486-2992.

Fund Foundation 2024 – 2025 Research Grant Cycle