The
Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) is a
North American
nonprofit organization devoted to the promotion of public interest in
archaeology, and the preservation of archaeological sites. It is based at
Boston University.
The institute was founded in 1879, with
Charles Eliot Norton as its first President until 1890. It was chartered in 1906 by the
United States Congress. The institute currently has over 200,000 members and more than 100 local societies.
The
American Journal of Archaeology, published by the Institute, is freely available on the net. The institute has also published the magazine
Archaeology since 1948.
Harrison Ford, who portrayed the fictional archaeologist
Indiana Jones in four films, serves as a General Trustee on the Governing Board of the AIA.
The current president is Professor Brian Rose of the University of Pennsylvania; Teresa Keller is Executive Director.
The AIA, as part of its site preservation efforts, has started with the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology the Sustainable Preservation Initiative, directed by Inca archaeologist
Larry Coben. The Initiative focuses on preservation in Greece, Mexico, Turkey, and non-OECD countries. The institute utilizes new paradigms of preservation that incorporate local empowerment and sustainable economic development.