The Nevada Archaeological Association (NAA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization consisting of professional, academic, and avocational archaeologists, with members throughout the state and across the nation, regional chapters, and several affiliated societies. The mission of the NAA is to encourage public interest and involvement in archaeology and historic preservation by sharing information through lectures, workshops, field trips, an annual meeting, and both newsletter and journal publications. Archaeologists affiliated with the NAA volunteer their time to help educate other NAA members and to provide them opportunities to experience Nevada archaeology.

In Situ is the NAA’s quarterly newsletter, containing articles and short reports submitted by NAA members, notices about legal developments concerning archaeology and historic preservation, announcements for lectures and the annual meeting, chapter updates, and other information. Since 1972, Nevada Archaeologist has been the NAA’s annual journal, offering contributions from professional, academic, and avocational archaeologists. It is now a peer-reviewed publication. In Situ and Nevada Archaeologist are provided free of charge to NAA members as benefits for being part of the organization.

The NAA hosts a three-day annual meeting that features workshops on historic and prehistoric archaeology, paper presentations, a keynote speaker, student scholarship grants, socials, a silent auction, and the election of the NAA officers, board members, and support committee chairs.  During the meeting banquet the NAA recognizes individual contributions to Nevada archaeology with the Silver Trowel Award for lifetime achievement by professionals and/or academics, and the Ting-Perkins Award for outstanding work by avocational archaeologists.

Each May the NAA also funds, designs, and prints a poster to celebrate Nevada Historic Preservation and Archaeology Awareness Month. The posters are distributed free to the public through land management agencies, educational institutions, and at the NAA annual meeting. To generate more visibility for Nevada archaeology, the NAA enters its annual poster in a contest hosted by the Society for American Archaeology.

 

 

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