What the Florida Archaeological Council Does to Promote Florida Archaeology

Updated

The Florida Archaeological Council (FAC) is an organization of professional archaeologists working in Florida. Its stated objectives are to promote and stimulate interest in Florida archaeology, encourage public appreciation of archaeology, promote high standards of archaeological practice, and advocate for the conservation and preservation of archaeological resources and materials. If you are looking for the body that sets professional expectations and organizes much of the statewide archaeological community's activity, that is the role FAC describes for itself.

The four objectives, and what each means in practice

The FAC's own description of its mission lists four objectives. They are worth reading as a set, because together they cover research interest, public outreach, professional standards, and preservation advocacy.

Objective What it points to
Promote and stimulate interest in Florida archaeology Encouraging research, discussion, and engagement with the state's archaeological record
Encourage public appreciation of archaeology Outreach so that non-specialists understand and value archaeological work
Promote high quality standards of archaeological practice Professional expectations for how archaeology is done in Florida
Advocate and aid in the conservation and preservation of archaeological resources and materials Supporting protection of sites and collections

Convening the archaeological community

One concrete way FAC advances these goals is by helping host major gatherings. FAC and the Department of Anthropology at the University of Florida hosted the 77th Annual Meeting of the Florida Anthropological Society in Gainesville on May 9–11, 2025, at the Hilton Hotel and Conference Center across from the University of Florida.

The program shows the mix of formats FAC helps bring together:

  • A welcome reception at Swamp Head Brewery
  • A full day of paper and poster presentations
  • An awards banquet with keynote speaker Dr. Charles Cobb, Professor of Historical Archaeology at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville
  • Sunday field trips and workshops, including Dudley Farm Historic State Park, Newnans Lake Archaeological Site, Florida Museum of Natural History Behind the Scenes, and an FPAN Historic Cemetery Tour and Preservation Short Course
  • Business meetings and workshops, including the FAS Board with annual elections and a workshop on the FAC publication Thinking About Significance

If you want the full program, FAC directs readers to the FAS website.

Recognizing preservation work: the Stewards of Heritage Award

FAC presents the Stewards of Heritage Award to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to archaeological preservation, research, education, or public awareness of Florida archaeology. The 2024 awardees were:

  • The City of Sarasota, Florida — recognized for its community's efforts to protect and preserve prehistoric and historic resources throughout the city over the past 50 years.
  • Andres Viglucci — recognized for more than 40 years of advocacy for the archaeological heritage of Miami and South Florida as a reporter for the Miami Herald.

The award to the City of Sarasota was accepted by the city's HP officer, Dr. Clifford Smith, at the Florida Anthropological Society Annual Conference in Pensacola in May 2024.

Who this matters to

  • Professional archaeologists in Florida — FAC is explicitly an organization of professional archaeologists, and its standards objective speaks directly to practice.
  • Students and early-career archaeologists — the annual meeting program, workshops, and field trips are the visible entry points into the statewide community.
  • Local governments and heritage advocates — the Stewards of Heritage Award shows the kind of long-term preservation and advocacy work FAC chooses to recognize.
  • Members of the public — the public-appreciation objective is part of FAC's stated mission, not an afterthought.

What FAC is not

The available description does not present FAC as a regulator, a licensing body, or a membership-benefits program with published dues or access tiers. It describes an organization of professional archaeologists with four objectives and a record of hosting conferences and giving awards. For anything beyond that — membership terms, publications, or current programs — the FAC site itself is the place to check.