On March 30, 2022, in Chicago, at the first in-person SAA Annual Meeting in three years, the SAA Board approved new purpose, mission, and vision statements for the first time in more than a generation. These new statements did not appear out of thin air—they are the result of a deliberate, systematic, and inclusive process, detailed in the September 2022 issue of The SAA Archaeological Record and on a webpage dedicated to updating members on the strategic planning process.
Purpose (our why)
Advancing archaeology, preservation, and practice.
Mission (our aim)
SAA empowers its members to understand humanity’s past through ethically-based scientific and humanistic investigation, to promote preservation of archaeological resources and cultural heritage through support of legislation and education, to create collaboration between the profession and descendant communities, and to assist professional growth.
Shared Vision (our direction)
To champion archaeologists in their efforts to advance knowledge of and to protect the past for society; and to build a more ethical, just, and equitable future of the profession.