News

The XXI UISPP World Congress has concluded in Poznań, Poland, bringing together more than 700 participants from 58 countries across five continents. Held from 31 August to 4 September 2026 under the theme ‘Archaeology in Motion: Past Lessons, Future Responsibilities’, the Congress featured 89 scientific sessions, plenary lectures, Commission meetings and field excursions. It was the first UISPP World Congress to be hosted in Poland, creating a major occasion for international exchange in prehistoric and protohistoric archaeology.

Latifa Sari, Vice-President of the UISPP Commission Art and Civilizations in the Sahara during Prehistoric Times, has been elected President of the PanAfrican Archaeological Association by its members on 31 July 2026. This well-deserved appointment recognises her longstanding contributions to North African prehistory, lithic technologies and international archaeological collaboration. It is expected to strengthen dialogue and cooperation across Africa’s archaeological community while deepening the longstanding links between the UISPP and the PanAfrican Archaeological Association.

Venceslas Kruta, renowned specialist in the protohistory of Europe and the ancient Celts and long‑standing member of the UISPP Honorary Committee, died on 19 July 2026 at the age of 86. Born in Saumur in 1939, he taught European protohistory at the École Pratique des Hautes Études and directed the Centre d’études celtiques in Paris. His major works and the landmark 1991 exhibition I Celti: la prima Europa profoundly shaped the study of Celtic Europe.

The Musée d'Anthropologie préhistorique de Monaco invites applications for a fully funded three-year doctoral studentship starting in January 2027. Candidates should propose an original research project in palaeoanthropology, Palaeolithic archaeology, human evolution, zooarchaeology, palaeoenvironmental studies, or related fields, making use of the Museum’s internationally significant collections. Founded in 1902, the Museum offers an exceptional research environment for innovative studies of human prehistory and archaeological collections. 

Rudolph Kuper passed away on 14 April 2026. A leading figure in Saharan archaeology, he dedicated over five decades to interdisciplinary research in northeastern Africa, initiating and developing major research programmes, advancing the study of Holocene environments, and playing a key role in international scholarly collaboration. A committed mentor, he trained generations of researchers and supported academic development, particularly in Egypt. His work leaves a lasting impact on African prehistoric studies.

International Conference ‘Engraving Bones in Prehistoric Times’, 6–8 May 2026, PETRI Berlin, Kleine Gertrudenstraße 8, 10178 Berlin. Audit only – attendance fee is €10 and must be paid at the entrance in cash. Please register by 30 April.

Registration and calls for papers for the upcoming XXI UISPP World Congress, which will take place from August 31st to September 4th, 2026 in Poznań, Poland, are now open. You are warmly invited to submit your paper proposals via the conference website at: https://uispp2026.syskonf.pl/

The international conference Arakne: Archaeology of Textile Fibres between Biodiversity and Culture will be held on 15–16 January 2026 at the Museo Castromediano in Lecce. Bringing together archaeologists, biologists, and cultural historians, the event explores ancient textile production through the lens of biodiversity and cultural exchange.

PastForwardHub, proudly supported by the UISPP, is an innovative platform empowering the next generation of researchers in prehistoric and protohistoric archaeology. As a global career hub, it tackles key challenges arising from structural shifts in academia and archaeology, especially for early-career professionals. The ongoing Kickstarter campaign to crowdfund this initiative runs until January 10, 2026.

The University of Cantabria is advertising a PhD studentship in prehistoric archaeology, on the topic of ‘The use of faunal resources in habitational an ritual contexts during the Magdalenian’. The deadline for applications is December 15th, 2025. Please follow the link from the title of his news item to view the full call.

Recent research by members of the UISPP's Metal Ages commission have identified the largest nucleated settlement agglomeration known from prehistoric Ireland, predating Ireland's Viking towns, so far held to be the earliest settlements with 'urban' characteristics in the island, by two millennia. The findings were published in a recent article in the journal Antiquity and challenge us to reconsider the conventional perception of Late Bronze Age societies on Europe's Atlantic periphery.

The deadline for session proposals for the upcoming XXI UISPP World Congress, which will take place from August 31st to September 4th, 2026 in Poznań, Poland, has been extended until November 30th, 2025. You are warmly invited to submit your session proposals via the conference website at: https://uispp2026.syskonf.pl/

From June 13th to 14th, 2026, the XIXth Mação International Rock Art Seminar will explore the contexts and concepts of schematic art, recognizing its vast diversity across time, geography, and broader cultural settings. How is schematic art interpreted in different regions and academic traditions? Can the concept and its applications be further refined? What are its practical uses, and what major limitations does it face?

The 2025 UISPP Inter-Congress ‘Asian Prehistory Today: Bridging Science, Heritage and Development’ opened in Salatiga, Indonesia, bringing together leading archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians from 39 different countries around the world. Hosted in the vibrant cultural hub of Central Java, the congress features keynote speeches, workshops, thematic sessions, and field trips, highlighting Southeast Asia’s rich archaeological heritage and fostering collaboration and cultural exchange within and beyond the region. The congress runs through November 6th.

The 12th Doctoral Meeting of the European School of Protohistory of Bibracte (EEPB) will be held on 12–15th March 2026, on the theme: ‘Into the Wild: Rethinking Protohistoric Encounters Between Humans and their Environment’, at Glux-en-Glenne, Burgundy, France. Proposal submission deadline: 15 December 2025.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Professor David Lubell. Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at the University of Alberta, where he began teaching in 1969, and later Adjunct Professor at Waterloo, his pioneering research shaped our understanding of late Pleistocene and early Holocene prehistory in the western Mediterranean. Through influential excavations, publications, and editorial work, he left a lasting scholarly legacy. We mourn the loss of a generous and remarkable colleague.

Louis Bonnamour, distinguished French protohistorian and long-standing member of the UISPP, has passed away, leaving a lasting legacy in fluvial archaeology. A passionate pioneer of underwater archaeology and devoted curator of the Musée Denon, he shared his knowledge generously, inspiring generations of students and colleagues. Fondly remembered for uniting scholarly rigour with warmth and attentiveness, he remains an enduring source of inspiration whose contributions will continue to shape the discipline for years to come.

The conference Archaeology Gone Astray: Forgeries, Misinterpretations, and Other Field Stories, organized by the UISPP Commission on the History of Archaeology, offers a space for reflection, self-reflection, and a bit of humor—because, like any living science, archaeology sometimes takes a wrong turn.

From May 6 to 8, 2025, the Commission ‘Flint Mining in Prehistoric and Protohistoric Times’ convened at the Worthing Museum and Art Gallery for a conference titled ‘Excavating in the Land of the Devil: Past and Current Research on Prehistoric Flint Mines’. 

Now in Early View: A special JASR issue on 'Traceology in the 21^st Century', comprising papers from sessions organized by the 'Functional Studies' Commission at the UISPP World Congresses in Meknes and Timișoara.