ASAPA 2026 Conference

🎤📈CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS - Monday, 6 July 2026📈🎤

The first day of sessions officially kicks off!

The opening session began with song and dance as the University of Mpumalanga's choir started the conference off with 'Sanibonani', a greeting to all.

The University's Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Thenjiwe Meyiwa, then implored archaeologists attending to think about the impact the discipline might have in solving our current problems. Mr Sanjay Singh, from the Department of Art, Sport and Culture, reflected on what it meant to be an archaeologist and the discipline's core identities. These sentiments were all pressed forward with the keynote address by Prof. Shadreck Chirikure, the Edward Hall Chair of Archaeological Science at the University of Oxford, who pushed everyone to think critically about the role of the discipline.

The opening session broke out into parallel sessions, with stimulating talks on mapping, trade and long-distance networks, maritime archaeology, geoarchaeology, and the interior's prehistory.

The organising committee also donated artwork produced by Matt Koster that integrated various elements of the conference, material culture, southern African history, and symbolism into a rousing and stunning art piece.

In the evening, AFRACHA launched its organisation with a commitment to promoting, preserving, sharing and supporting African culture, heritage and art during the conference's poster session.

Thank you to everyone for a successful first day of

Let's keep it going!

🥂📊 CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS – Pre-conference workshops and Welcome event 📊🥂

Yesterday, we officially kicked off our biennial gathering of ASAPA 2026 at the University of Mpumalanga with a lineup of pre-conference workshops and our formal welcome event. The energy, collaboration, and academic dialogue are already setting a fantastic tone for the week ahead!

A massive thank you to our workshop facilitators, organisers, and everyone who joined us to make the day such a success. The stage is officially set for an engaging week of sessions!

We are grateful to the University of Mpumalanga for hosting the conference.

The university is one of South Africa’s emerging institutions, taking in its first cohort of students in 2014. Beginning with 169 students, it now hosts over 10,000 scholars across two campuses studying in over 80 academic programmes in undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The first chancellor of the University of Mpumalanga was Cyril Ramaphosa, followed by Justice Mandisa Maya. Today, under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Prof Thenjiwe Meyiwa, the university continues to build on its motto, Creating Opportunities, and its vision of being an African university leading in sustainable development through innovation.

The Mbombela Campus, where the conference is held, is a stunning, modern academic space that is actively growing to accommodate more students in the coming years. It features beautiful outdoor spaces, student relaxation areas, contemporary lecture rooms, advanced hybrid learning systems, and a four-star hotel and restaurant.

To all the delegates joining us for this inaugural meeting of ASAPA in the Mpumalanga Province, we send a warm welcome to our exceptional University of Mpumalanga campus.

📢 OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO OUR ASAPA 2026 PARTNERS! 📢

An academic gathering of this scale is only possible through the incredible support of organisations committed to advancing research, heritage preservation, and scientific dialogue.

As we kick off at the University of Mpumalanga, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our incredible partners. Your vital contributions have not only powered our sessions but have also fostered crucial opportunities for collaboration, student development, and the growth of archaeology across southern Africa.

We are immensely proud to partner with institutions that share our vision for making history and heritage accessible to all.

To each of our partners: thank you for standing alongside us and making this biennial conference an unforgettable success!




palaeo

⏳ Tomorrow is the day! ⏳

The wait is officially over. Tomorrow, ASAPA 2026 finally kicks off at the University of Mpumalanga!

To close out our countdown, we head back to Kaapschehoop (or more accurately, the beautiful surrounding area).

The wild horses of Kaapschehoop are one of South Africa’s few free-roaming horse populations. Their exact origins remain debated, but they have become an iconic part of the escarpment’s cultural heritage – a strong contender for a scenic post-conference day trip.🐎

For those joining us today, we hope you have an engaging and educational experience at the pre-conference workshops.

See you tomorrow morning! 🎉

⏳ ONLY 2 DAYS TO GO! ⏳

It’s about time we address the terracotta head in the room.

The Lydenburg heads, one of which is the logo for ASAPA 2026, were discovered on a farm near Lydenburg, Mpumalanga in the 1950s. At around 1,500 years old, the heads represent the earliest sculptures found in southern Africa. Replicas of the heads can be viewed at the Lydenburg Museum while the originals are housed at the Iziko South African Museum.

Registration for ASAPA 2026 opens on Sunday, 5 July. Who else is trying to wrap their head around how quickly the conference is approaching? 😆

⏳ JUST 3 DAYS LEFT! ⏳

For those travelling along the R539 to attend ASAPA 2026, be on the lookout for another of Mbombela’s gems.

The Sudwala Caves are among the oldest known cave systems in the world and annually showcase concerts and races. Something you can learn about more on their guided tours, or check out their zipline, restaurant or, for those keen spelunkers, the 4-hour crystal tour that takes you 2,000 meters into the cave system.✨

The stage is almost set. Safe travels to everyone departing this weekend—see you in 3 days! 🚗

⏳ 4 DAYS UNTIL WE BEGIN! ⏳

The countdown until ASAPA 2026 is moving fast, and today we’re looking at a favourite local spot.

Kaapschehoop owes its existence to the discovery of gold in 1882 in the area. Although the gold rush was eventually eclipsed by discoveries elsewhere, the village remains one of South Africa’s best preserved nineteenth century mining settlements.

We can’t wait to see you all and dive into this year's presentations!

Double-check your packing lists and presentation slides, we’ll see you in 4 days! 📑💻

⏳ ONLY 5 DAYS TO GO! ⏳

As we get ready to welcome you all, we couldn't help but share a quick look at the incredible landscape hosting us for this year’s ASAPA conference.

Did you know that the University of Mpumalanga sits right on the doorstep of geological history? The nearby Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains preserve some of the oldest exposed rocks in the world dating back 3.6 to 3.25 billion years! 🌄

We are incredibly excited for a week of groundbreaking research, insightful panels, and reconnecting with colleagues.

As you finalise your itinerary, make a note to check out the Barberton Makhonjwa Geotrail.

See you in 5 days! 🎉

📢 THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA WILL BE AVAILABLE AT ASAPA2026 📢

Ten copies of the second edition of 'The Archaeology of Southern Africa' by Prof. Peter Mitchell will be available at ASAPA 2026 at the special price of R500.00!

How to get a copy:
1. Visit the book table set up during the conference

OR

2. Complete the form below to pre-order your copy (pick up and payment at the conference)

Cash, card or EFT payments will be accepted during the conference.

Order your copy now!

https://forms.gle/MA8WXoAJhzeaJ4zcA