The PanAfrican Archaeological Association (PAA) has been working for nearly 80 years to unite archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians from across the continent, consolidating African efforts to advance the interests of archaeology, history, and heritage. The PAA belongs to all who work in African archaeology, history, and related disciplines. PAA is a non-profit organization, staffed by volunteers who work in the interests of all. 

Every four years, members of the PAA convene for the Pan-African Congress for Prehistory and Related Studies. PanAf 2026, announced during the Zanzibar meeting in 2022, will be hosted by the University of Eduardo Mondlane in Maputo, Mozambique. Organized by the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences from July 26 to 31, 2026, Mozambique will have the distinct honor of being the first Lusophone African country to host this historic conference. 

PanAf 2026’s theme, “Discovering African Archaeology and Heritage Without Borders,” asks scholars to consider the common challenges and opportunities faced by all those interested in studying and presenting the African past. Scholars globally face various challenges when considering, designing, and implementing their research projects across two or more neighbouring African countries. We invite papers and sessions that will reflect, critique, and expand on these challenges, and chart new methodologies for future directions.

Our Theme

Discovering African Archaeology and Heritage Without Borders

Both Africans and non-Africans face various challenges when thinking of, designing and implementing their research projects in two or more neighbouring African countries. These challenges include language barriers, varying research policies and guidelines, national research agendas and priorities, peace status and the level of development that can all determine the degree of accessibility to field areas and individuals for research purposes. Apart from linguistic and administrative challenges (national laws, policies and priorities), there remain divides between various specializations based on chronological period of interest and the type of materials researchers deal with to answer their research questions.

We welcome all archaeologists, heritage scholars and other scientists from cognate disciplines to submit sessions that allow researchers to engage with and learn from each other on how to conduct research and disseminate outputs to African communities despite existing spatial-temporal, linguistic and cultural boundaries.