Roles

Types of Roles

Presenter*
Chair*
Moderator
Discussant

*Individuals may only hold the role of presenter and chair once per meeting.

Number of Roles

Participants are limited to holding three participant roles (presenter, chair, moderator, or discussant) during the Annual Meeting. The web-based submission system will provide each participant with a role summary page. Coauthor does not count as an official participant role.

The only exceptions to the review process and the three-role rule are the opening session and “SAA sessions” that are mandated by the SAA Board.

Coauthors

Only one of the coauthors on any paper/poster may be identified as the “presenter” (a.k.a first author). The presenting author (“presenter”) should submit and register for the Annual Meeting through the submissions portal. Non-presenting coauthors are not required to attend or register for the Annual Meeting, as coauthor does not count as an official participant role. No abstract may list more than five authors (first author/“presenter” and 4 coauthors)

Those coauthors who wish to attend the meeting should register through the advance registration process which is available December through March.

Abstracts

An abstract is required from each "presenter" for either a paper or poster presentation, therefore coauthors should not submit a duplicate abstract. Individuals can only submit one abstract for consideration. No abstract may list more than five authors (first author/“presenter” and 4 coauthors). The author is responsible for clarity, content, spelling, grammar, and upholding the SAA Principles of Archaeological Ethics. Titles of abstracts should be presented in lowercase letters with initial letters of key words in capitals.

The SAA recognizes that images of human remains have the potential to be offensive and unsettling to some members of our community and those communities with whom we work. We ask that presenters please indicate in their abstract whether or not their presentation includes such images in an effort to create a more respectful environment for all.

The maximum abstract length is 200 words.

Submission Formats

General Session Formats

Any individual who would like to participate in the Annual Meeting can submit to a General session. Contributed papers, reports, and posters are organized by the Program Committee into general sessions around a theme, method, or region.

Contributed Paper/Research Report

Contributed papers or research reports are submitted individually by the presenter. Research reports describe the results of a recent field or laboratory research project, while contributed papers generalize, synthesize, and/or address topics in theory, method, culture history, or culture process.

Research reports and contributed papers are organized by the Program Committee chair into general sessions around a theme, methodology, or region. General session chairs are designated by the Program Committee chair.

Length: 15 minutes

Contributed Poster

The poster presentation is particularly appropriate for research results that can be described graphically. Posters are especially encouraged and are particularly effective for presentations communicating quantitative data. Contributed poster presentations are submitted individually by the presenter and grouped by the Program Committee chair into a poster session based on the theme.

Display time: 2 hours

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SAA Sessions

“SAA sessions” are sessions mandated by the Board in furtherance of key Society goals.   

The President’s Invited Forum is an “SAA session.” “SAA sessions” are exempt from the review process and the three-role rule. Non-SAA members who participate only in SAA sessions may be exempt from the membership. If you are chairing an exempt session, contact the SAA office ([email protected]) prior to setting up your session so staff may designate the session as “exempt.” This will give exempt session participants who have reached their maximum number of roles the ability to participate in the session.

Sponsored and Invited Sessions

The designation “sponsored” indicates the support of an SAA internal entity (i.e. committee, Task Force, interest group) or an outside organization that has received explicit approval from the SAA Executive Director. For example, the Fryxell Symposium is a sponsored symposium by the Fryxell Award Committee. Outside organizations will need to contact Oona Schmid ([email protected]) to discuss session sponsorship approval. The designation “invited” reflects a special status and role within the meeting, as defined by the Program Committee chair. All sponsored and invited sessions are subject to review by the Program Committee and must conform to Annual Meeting policies. These sessions must also conform to regular scheduled deadlines. 

Because numerous groups wish to sponsor sessions, the Program Committee must balance such requests with other program goals; as a result, in some circumstances, requests for sponsored sessions may be rejected. Typically, a group may sponsor one session. Additional sponsored sessions by the same group are solely at the discretion of the Program Committee.

Q&A Slots

Each symposium can have a maximum of two Q&A slots. There is no minimum number of presenters required to insert a Q&A slot.

Requests for Special Scheduling

Given the size and complexity of the annual meeting, SAA does not accept special scheduling requests.

ATTENTION! BEWARE OF HOUSING POACHERS!

The Society for American Archaeology (SAA) has learned of a company that is attempting to do business with SAA exhibitors and attendees by soliciting them for sleeping rooms in regard to the SAA Annual Meeting. The SAA does not endorse booking hotel reservations via another company or source. The only authorized sources for making hotel room reservations for the annual meeting is the SAA website and with the hotel directly.

If you receive any solicitations either via email or telephone from other third parties/vendors incorrectly identifying themselves as an official SAA housing representative or member of exhibition services, we ask that you please delete the message immediately, ignore any further requests, and contact the SAA’s executive director immediately at +1 (202) 559-4580.