ESAF

Eastern States Archeological Eastern States Archeological Federation · ESAF Federation

About ESAF

ESAF was organized in 1933 to provide a forum for the exchange of archeological information among archeologists and state archeological societies. ESAF fosters international cooperation and information exchange within the archeological community, as well as supporting public outreach, education, and participation.

Algonquin Village Eastern States Archeological Federation — Credit: Britannica. A 16th-century sketch shows the Algonquian village of Pomeiock with huts and longhouses inside a protective palisade.

Charlestown, Massachusetts Projectile Points — Credit: Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC). Projectile points. Stone, Chipped. Charlestown, MA. Native Americans made projectile points in different styles through the years, and archeologists have named many of these different styles.

map of the following independent states of North America : viz. Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pensylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut & Rhode Island : comprehending also the habitations & hunting countries of the confederate Indians — Credit: New York Public Library. Bowles’s new pocket map of the following independent states of North America : viz. Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut & Rhode Island : comprehending also the habitations & hunting countries of the confederate Indians.

About ESAF

T he Eastern States Archeological Federation (ESAF) is an organization of state archeological societies representing much of the Eastern United States and Canada. ESAF was organized in 1933/34 to provide a forum for the exchange of archeological information among archeologists and state archeological societies. With a membership of 12 state societies and over 300 individual memberships, ESAF continues to foster international cooperation and information exchange within the archeological community, as well as supporting public outreach, education, and participation.

ESAF meets one time a year (November); publishes Archaeology of Eastern North America (AENA); and a Bulletin which contains state society membership information, annual Board and business meeting minutes, and the annual Treasurer's report. ESAF holds at least one annual Executive Board meeting and one annual business meeting. At the annual business meeting, anyone present who is a member of an ESAF state society or who is an individual ESAF member can vote on all business proceedings.

The administration of ESAF is carried out by an Executive Board comprised of a Representative from each Member Society, the Elected Officers, Committee Chairs, the Archeology of Eastern North America (AENA), and Bulletin Editors, and a Business Manager.

The Eastern States Archaeology Federation welcomes people of all identities and strives to create an environment that is fair and unbiased. To this end, we support equity work across our discipline and community as we condemn prejudice and discrimination. As a multi-state and province organization, we recognize our members come from many communities where different forms of discrimination exist and intersect.

ESAF also recognizes the colonial foundations of archaeology, and the harm this has caused Indigenous people. We recognize that we have not been an exception to this legacy, and we strive to promote ethical, community-engaged archaeological practices, and to promote Indigenous voices within our discipline.

The objectives of this Federation

To serve as a bond between the Member Societies.
To encourage and promote scientific archeological work by the Member Societies, Individual Members and Institutional Members.
To publish and encourage the publication of reports and articles about the archeology of the region anthropological studies related to the archeology of the area and contributions from inter-disciplinary fields related to the study of Eastern North American archeology.
To promote the spread of archeological knowledge.
To engage in the archeological projects which exceed the capabilities of the Member Societies.

ESAF discourages the sale, purchase or trade of artifacts. ESAF members also should not appraise artifacts for monetary value, unless required for assessments of damage, insurance, donation to a museum, or similar needs. The sale or trade of artifacts is also prohibited at ESAF events.