African Archaeology throughout the Holocene

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "African Archaeology throughout the Holocene," at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Archaeology of Africa is progressing at an unprecedented pace. Remarkable finds, innovative paradigms, and new voices emerging from across the continent have provided insights into the African past that continue to undermine old narratives. In addition, through the work of African and international scholars, it has become clear that African archaeology has much to offer the discipline more broadly. Despite the explicit relevance for global topics ranging from food production, monumentality, trade and exchange, human/environment interaction, colonial encounters, and beyond, research into Africa’s histories - particularly those of the last 10,000 years – continue to receive little attention in published discourse or professional conferences. This session seeks to highlight the diversity and pertinency of Africa’s Holocene past throughout the period and from around the continent. By bringing together scholars working on new questions, in new regions, or through the lenses of new technologies and theories, we strive to connect the varied histories that are emerging across Africa and chart a course for the future.