NYSAA News

This is from Sue Maguire regarding the Anthropology Dept. at Buffalo State. Please let your chapter members know.

I am writing to let you know that the Anthropology department was informed on Monday Jan 26 that all major and minor programs in anthropology will be deactivated, most likely at the end of the spring 2026 semester. Faculty retrenchments will follow this deactivation. We want to let the community know about this tragic loss to the heritage community.  

All the best,
Sue

Susan E. Maguire, Ph.D. (she/hers)

Associate Professor
Department of Anthropology
SUNY Buffalo State
1300 Elmwood Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14222

New York State Archaeological Association
107th Annual Meeting
April 17-19, 2026
Rochester Airport Marriott
1890 West Ridge Road, Rochester New York 14615

Conference Registration

» 2026 NYSAA Registration Form (pdf)

Hotel Accommodations

There has been confusion about the rate for the conference hotel. It is $123 per night. Please follow the directions when making reservations. Booking the hotel is separate from the conference registration. The conference rates are in effect until March 19, 2026. You may reserve a room online via Book your group rate for Archeology Conference or by calling 585-371-6181 M-F from 8:00am-4:00pm, ask for Carolyn and ensure you identify yourself as a member of the NYSAA.

Tour

The 2026 NYSAA conference tour will take place Friday April 17th, 3pm, at the 1816 Quaker Meeting House in Farmington NY. There is no cost for the tour, but registration is required. Please send a note to tour@nysarchaeology.org.

» Tour of Farmington Quaker Meetinghouse (pdf)

Transportation

Shuttle service from the Rochester International Airport is available. Contact the Hotel upon arriving at the airport to make arrangements for the shuttle service.

Student Rates

Special Student rates are available for high school and college students, provided a copy of a valid Student ID is included with the registration form. The special rates cover both the registration fee and banquet meal.

Meals

Friday night dinner is on your own. The Images Restaurant & Bar is located at the hotel for your convenience, and there are several other nearby dining options. Additional information will be included in your Conference Registrant packet.

Meal plans are available for breakfast on Saturday and/or Sunday, and for lunch for Saturday only. The Conference Banquet is a sit-down dinner and will take place on Saturday evening. Please refer to the registration form for meal selections.

Spouses/friends of those attending who do not plan to participate in the session but would like to join us for one or more meals may do so without registering for the conference.

Arts & Book Sale – Saturday, 8AM to 5:30 PM

Join us in Marriott’s “Olympia Room,” right next to Images Restaurant & Bar, to meet Haudenosaunee artisans and see their work, and to browse through publications to add to your reference library. (No archaeological artifacts for sale.) Spacious 6-foot tables are available, and all vendors must make reservations to rent space:

• Artists and book sellers: $25 per 6 ft table, or $15 for ½ table – an affordable way to connect with attendees.

Table space is limited and reservations are required. Contact Justin Tubiolo (tubiolo@juno.com) to reserve your space. Do not include Arts & Book Sale table rental with the Conference Registration. Please make checks or money orders payable to Lewis Henry Morgan Chapter, NYSAA and mail to Justin Tubiolo, 67 Midland Drive, Webster NY 14580.

Award of $1,500 &

1-year membership in NYSAA

Administered by the
William M. Beauchamp Chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association

To apply for this award, a student must be a New York state resident enrolled in an accredited New York state college or university undergraduate anthropology or history program. The student applicant must have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours; be majoring in anthropology or history; and be intending to pursue a career in archaeology (prehistoric, historic, military, industrial, marine) or museology; and be able to show a financial need.

The applicant must provide: 

1).   A current college transcript showing a “B” average or better.

2).   A financial need statement (Financial aid verification form from the college).

3).   A letter describing involvement in archaeological projects; a brief description of financial need; and applicant’s future plans (stated in the applicant’s own words & writing).

4).   A recommendation from a professional archaeologist.

The application for this award must be postmarked no later than Friday, March 20th, 2026.  It is advised that materials be sent as early as possible in the event that the committee has questions.  All materials are to be sent to Dr. Ellis McDowell-Loudan at the following address.

Dr. ELLIS McDOWELL – LOUDAN
BOX 502
3 WEST ACADEMY ST.
McGRAW, NY 13101

A committee composed of professional archaeologists, and avocational members of the Beauchamp Chapter will review the applications after March 20th, and choose the award recipient.

The award winner will be selected no later than Wednesday, April 1st, and announced at the 107th NYSAA Annual Meeting in Rochester, NY, during the NYSAA Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 18th, 2026.

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