AusTAG Conference 22-23 May 2026

Title: AusTAG 2026
Dates: 22 to 23 May, 2026
Location: National Wine Centre (Adelaide)
Program: Please visit http://austag.org/

Join us for AusTAG 2026, the inaugural conference of the Australian Theoretical Archaeology Group (AusTAG). This event brings together archaeologists, students, and researchers to explore the role of theory in understanding the human past.

Our Vision:

The Australian Theoretical Archaeological Group (AusTAG), exists to foster critical, creative, and inclusive conversations about the role of theory in archaeology. As part of the broader international TAG movement—which includes long-established communities in the UK (1979-), the Nordic Countries (1985-), and the USA (2009-)—AusTAG aims to move beyond data collection and presentation, toward deeper, more meaningful interpretations of the human past.

We believe the future of archaeology lies not simply in producing more data, but in thinking critically about what that data means and how we tell stories about the past. Our vision is to re-centre the interpretive and theoretical dimensions of the discipline, highlighting the diverse social, political, and cultural contexts in which people lived—and in which archaeologists continue to work today.

Theoretical archaeology in Australia has followed a distinctive trajectory. While shaped by global debates, it has been grounded in the specific historical, political, ethical and personal realities of working on unceded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land and sea Countries. Australian archaeologists have long grappled with issues of colonialism, identity, heritage, and representation—often balancing empirical research with critical self-reflection. AusTAG builds on this legacy by offering a national platform to address how a more explicit theoretical approach can deepen and expand these conversations.

We have a limited number of free registrations for First Nations attendees, please contact: austheoreticalarchaeologygroup@gmail.com

For further enquiries, please contact AusTAG at austheoreticalarchaeologygroup@gmail.com