Australian Archaeological Association facts for kids

The Australian Archaeological Association (AAA) is a group for people interested in archaeology in Australia. Anyone who wants to help archaeology grow in Australia can join.

People sometimes call the association Triple A. It started in 1973 at a meeting in Perth, Western Australia. Before that, people had talked about starting it in 1972 at other big meetings in Sydney.

The main goal of the AAA is to help archaeology in Australia. They want to:

• Help archaeology get better.
• Give people a place to talk about and share ideas about archaeology.
• Hold regular meetings.
• Tell everyone why it's important to study and protect old archaeological sites and collections.
• Share what the association does.

What Does the Australian Archaeological Association Do?

Sharing Discoveries: The Australian Archaeology Journal

Since 1974, the association has published a special magazine called Australian Archaeology. It started as a simple newsletter. Over time, it became a proper peer-reviewed academic journal. This means other experts check the articles before they are published to make sure they are correct and well-researched. Today, a company called Taylor & Francis publishes it.

Annual Conference and Awards

The AAA holds a big meeting every year for its members. This meeting moves around different Australian cities. At this yearly conference, they usually give out four important awards:

• Rhys Jones Medal: This award started in 2002. It honors Rhys Jones and is given for amazing work in Australian archaeology.
• Life Membership: This is for people who have helped the Australian Archaeological Association a lot over many years.
• Bruce Veitch Award: This award celebrates great work in connecting with and involving Indigenous (First Nations) communities.
• John Mulvaney Book Award: This award started in 2004. It honors John Mulvaney and is given for an excellent book about archaeology.

Celebrating History: National Archaeology Week

The AAA also supports "National Archaeology Week". This is a week-long event held every year. It aims to teach the public more about Australian archaeology. It also shows what Australian archaeologists do, both in Australia and overseas. The week helps everyone understand why it's so important to protect Australia's unique old sites and heritage.

National Archaeology Week starts on the third Sunday in May each year. During this week, there are many activities like:

• Public talks
• Seminars (small group discussions)
• Exhibits (displays)
• Demonstration digs (showing how archaeologists excavate)
• Other displays