SHA 2026 Conference
Dear SHA Members,
The Call for Papers for the SHA 2026 Conference on Historical and Underwater Archaeology, January 7-10, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan is now open at www.conftool.com/sha2026. The Call for Papers can be found on the SHA website at http://secure-sha.org/
The conference theme of “Mobility” is inspired by Detroit’s coastal location, industrial heritage, diverse cultural communities, and history as a city of movement(s). Central to the Great Lakes region, Detroit’s history has been shaped by Anishinaabeg, Wendat/Wyandot, and French Canadians who traversed the Detroit River in canoes; by African Americans who self-emancipated via the Underground Railroad; by laborers migrating from elsewhere in Michigan, the Southern United States, Europe, and the Middle East who made Detroit the “Arsenal of Democracy” building tanks and planes during World War Two; by generations of local activists who led national civil rights and labor movements; and now by automotive companies developing self-driving/electric cars in an increasingly revitalized city. Detroit’s livelihood has long depended upon its successes (and failures) in moving people, ideas, and goods from one place to another across the Great Lakes and the world.
The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, as well as the 325th anniversary of the French settlement of Detroit by Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. The year will not only be a monumental time for the city as it reflects upon its storied past, but an opportunity for historical archaeology to speak to the public and intersect with commemorative celebrations.
The Call for Papers will close on June 30, 2025. If you need assistance with submitting your abstract for the 2026 Conference, please contact the SHA at hq@sha.org.
We look forward to seeing you in Detroit for the 2026 Conference on Historical and Underwater Archaeology!
The SHA 2026 Conference Committee