Mission Statement
The AIA promotes archaeological inquiry and public understanding of the material record of the human past to foster an appreciation of diverse cultures and our shared humanity. The AIA supports archaeologists, their research and its dissemination, and the ethical practice of archaeology. The AIA educates people of all ages about the significance of archaeological discovery and advocates for the preservation of the world’s archaeological heritage.
Did you Know that the AIA…?
- Is the oldest and largest archaeological organization in North America
- Was founded in 1879 and now boasts over 200,000 members and over 100 Local Societies in the United States, Canada, and Europe
- Established the American School of Classical Studies in Athens (1881) and Rome (1895) as well as the American School for Oriental Study and Research in Jerusalem (1899) and the School of American Research in Santa Fe, NM (1907)
- Publishes the premiere source for archaeological research – the American Journal of Archaeology
- Has offered over 120 years of free public lectures and now hosts over 200 lectures each year
- Has hosted an Annual Meeting every year for over 120 years, which has 2,500 attendees on average
- Reaches 700,000 readers of ARCHAEOLOGY magazine around the world
- Organizes tours of archaeologically, historically, and culturally significant sites around the globe with the world’s leading archaeologists
- Awards over 25 fellowships and grants each year to students and scholars around the world
- Established the Site Preservation Program, which has already saved over 30 threatened archaeological sites on five continents
- Helped 25 deserving students attend their first field school through the Waldbaum Archaeological Field School Scholarship Program in 2018
- Attracts over 200,000 people worldwide each year for International Archaeology Day with over 1,000 events taking place around the globe
- Received the largest gift in its 140-year history – the Richard C. MacDonald Iliad Endowment for Archaeological Research
in 2015
- Shared its headquarters for decades with the other AIA (the American Institute of Architects) in The Octagon in Washington, D.C.
- Now shares its headquarters with the American Meteorological Society in the Third Harrison Gray Otis House in Boston, MA
