Session Requirements
Session organisers may choose from one of the following formats:
| 1. Standard Session | A series of 20-minute papers addressing a theme presented in advance by the organisers. Standard session proposals should contain the following sections: Section 1: Introduction Section 2: Session Rationale and Objectives Section 3: Themes and Topics Section 4: Expected Outcomes Section 3 (Session Themes and Topics) should consist of a clear bulleted list of acceptable topics for the session. |
| 2. Round Table | A discussion-oriented session focused on a specific topic, challenge, or emerging issue. |
| 3. Other Format | An innovative format designed by the organisers to encourage interaction, collaboration, and engagement among participants. |
Session proposals (between 300 and 1000 words plus references) should be broad enough to reach all interested researchers, regardless of affiliation or background.
Diversity
The CAA strongly encourages its members to consider and promote under-represented demographics when convening a team to propose a session, encouraging colleagues to submit papers, and recruiting speakers. In particular, we encourage session proposers to consider how they can engage with and support colleagues from:
- multiple countries and institutes, particularly those less well represented within CAA membership;
- different career stages and professional situations, with particular attention to the participation of early career researchers and early career colleagues from within and outside academic institutions;
- different ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, nationalities, religions and other aspects of personal and professional identity which bring a range of perspectives and experiences to the CAA conference;
- different approaches to archaeological research and practice.
General Requirements
The CAA conference will be a fully in-person meeting in 2027. The official language of the conference is English and all session proposals should be submitted in English.
Each session should have at least two chairs and a maximum of four organisers.
Submitting session chairs as well as presenters will be required to endorse the CAA Ethics Policy when uploading a proposal.
All conference attendees, including session chairs and presenting authors, will need to be 2027 CAA members in addition to paying a separate conference registration fee.
Responsibilities of Session Organisers
Standard and Other Format Sessions
Session organisers will be expected to:
- Promote their sessions
- Encourage submission of abstracts
- Coordinate the review of submitted abstracts
- Submit a proposed running order for accepted presentations
- Actively engage with ethics issues
- Chair the session at the conference
- Encourage post-conference publication of papers
- Assist with publication through PCI Archaeology
The Call for Papers will open on 24 August 2026 and remain open until early October. The review period will be completed by mid-November. Session chairs will need to submit their preferred order of papers in early December.
Round Table Sessions
Session organisers will be expected to:
- Promote their sessions
- Recruit and select round table speakers
- Actively engage with ethics issues
- Write and circulate a pre-conference position paper
- Chair the round table at the conference
- Assist with publication through PCI Archaeology
Merging of Similar Sessions
The CAA Scientific Committee may propose splitting or merging sessions as part of the review process depending upon the number of submissions. Session chairs are expected to work with the Scientific Committee to facilitate this process.