The Society of Black Archaeologists (SBA) wishes you a happy new year! This January, the SBA highlights some of their members’ achievements, as well as announces their new SBA elected officials.

2024 Elected Officials

President-elect: Alicia Odewale

Secretary: Jordan Davis

Treasurer: Craig Stevens

Student Representative: Rebecca Davis

Milestones & Achievements 

• Congratulations to the Back-to-Africa Heritage and Archaeology Project (BAHA) for receiving the Society for Historical Archaeology Mark E. Mack Community Engagement Awards for January 2024! The award honors research project teams who exhibit outstanding best practices in community collaboration, engagement, and outreach in their historical archaeology and heritage preservation work. The BAHA team is being acknowledged for their public archaeology and curation efforts at Providence Island and the National Museum of Liberia. Shoutout to the BAHA team for the great work!

• The Archaeological Society of Jamaica: “Public Archaeology and Heritage at White Marl” Virtual Webinar | Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at 6:00 PM local time – This engaging session will delve into the rich tapestry of Heritage and Archaeology at White Marl in Central Village, Saint Catherine.The focus will be on exploring the intricacies of this complex, organized pre-colonial site and shedding light on the potential risks it faces in the context of highway development. The discussion will extend to the profound concepts of memory and heritage, connecting decades of archaeological research to the contemporary life of the modern community surrounding the site. Join for an enlightening evening as we uncover the layers of history, weaving together the threads of the past with the challenges and opportunities of the present.
• “Anthropology and the Black Experience” Dakar, Senegal | May 15-18, 2024 – The Association of Black Anthropologists (ABA), Society of Black Archaeologists (SBA), and the Black in BioAnth (BiBA) Collective are pleased to announce a call for papers for a conference entitled “Anthropology and the Black Experience.” The 21st century has witnessed significant shifts in the anthropological landscape, with diverse voices and perspectives emerging to challenge traditional narratives. This conference seeks to explore the unique contributions and experiences of Black scholars in anthropology, emphasizing the rich tapestry of knowledge, methodologies, and insights they bring to the discipline. We invite scholars, researchers, and students from all sub-disciplines and related fields to reflect on the historiography of anthropology in Africa and the African diaspora, the role and contributions of people of African descent in the field, and the latest research being done by and in communities of African descent.
• SBA Conference Travel Award | The award offers support for non-US SBA members traveling to present research at scholarly conferences. SBA will provide a total award of up to $1000 USD. Award funding is intended for conference and travel-related expenses, including conference registration, travel (e.g., airfare, vehicle rentals), and room/board. Questions about the review criteria and the award can be directed to treasurer@societyofblackarchaeologists.com
• Climate Change and Archaeology Survey | The Heritage-at-Risk Task Force of the Southeastern Archaeological Conference (SEAC) is conducting a short survey on the effects of climate change on the practice of archaeology and the resources we study. They invite all SBA members to contribute!