Archaeological Society of Alberta - Edmonton Centre

The Archaeological Society of Alberta (ASA) is being defunded!

See below for what you can do to help!

In the 2026 Alberta Provincial Budget Announcement, the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women, headed by Minister Tanya Fir, stated that the Archaeological Society of Alberta (ASA) and two other Provincial Heritage Organizations (PHOs) lost their annual provincial funding and designation as PHOs. The ASA has been a leading voice and heritage advocate for more than 50 years, and has been receiving modest funding for several decades to support its public initiatives.

Board members across the province have been working to connect with politicians and community members to show how valuable we are as a PHO. We now need your help! We encourage all of our members to write to or call their MLA and share their perspective on the value of cultural heritage preservation, particularly archaeology. Click the button below for the latest newsletter with more details on the ASA and tips for writing a letter to your MLA. 

Welcome!

About us

The Archaeological Society of Alberta - Edmonton Centre (ASAEC) is currently the most northern chapter of the Archaeological Society of Alberta (www.arkylberta.ca).  We  promote local, Albertan, and Canadian archaeology and archaeologists.  We host workshops, field trips, and a speaker series on a yearly basis. We are a registered non-profit and hold charitable status.

For over 40 years the Archaeological Society of Alberta (ASA) has been an advocate for the study and preservation of the rich archaeological heritage of Alberta.  The ASA provides opportunities for the public to learn more about Alberta's heritage by attending regular archaeological lectures, visiting archaeological sites, participating in archaeological research, and taking part in traditional skills workshops.

All members of the ASA support the terms of the Alberta Historical Resources Act, which provides protection to all archaeological and paleontological sites.  For more information on this Act, please contact the Heritage Division of the Government of Alberta.

What is Archaeology?

Archaeology is the study of human history through material remains.  Archaeologists use excavation followed by analysis to understand past societies and how they changed over time.  Through archaeology it is possible to reconstruct aspects of human society, such as human diet, housing, and lifestyle.  Archaeology is one of the four fields of anthropology, along with cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and biological anthropology. These disciplines work closely together to provide insight into humans and our ancestors.