2026 MAS Annual Conference Schedule

2026 MAS Annual Conference
Downtown Missoula, Holiday Inn, 200 South Pattee Street

Thursday – 4/9/2026: Early Bird Special
-7:30-10:30
Roxy Theatre social and showing of “More Bitter Than Death”.
Three questions for you: 1.) Looking for a solid representation of archaeology in popular media? 2.) Looking for serious, not cheesy archaeological drama? 3.) Most importantly, looking for an accurate depiction of how archaeologists dress at their annual conferences? This movie is not for you! But don’t worry, we have the Roxy Annex reserved, as well. Come watch a silly movie or just have a beverage and commune with your fellow early birds.

Friday – 4/10/2026: Welcome
-8:45am-2:45pm
Rock Art Workshop with Dr. Larry Loendorf and colleagues. Participation limited. See website for more information.
(Glacier and Yellowstone Rooms)
-3:00pm-5:00pm
Unseen Missoula Tour, Carnal Enterprises. Participation limited. See website for more information. (Meeting place TBD)
-3:00pm-4:00pm
Committee Meetings (Glacier and Yellowstone Room/Montana Board Room)
-4:00pm-5:00pm
Board Meeting (Montana Board Room)
-5:30pm-9:00pm
Welcome Reception/Auction and Poster Session (Big Sky Atrium North)

Saturday – 4/11/2026: Papers
-9:00am-12:00pm
First Paper Session
-12:00pm-1:00pm
Lunch in Missoula
-1:00pm-4:00pm
Second Paper Session
-4:00pm-5:00pm
General Membership Meeting
-6:00pm-9:00pm
Banquet [Keynote from Dr. Larry Loendorf before dinner]
-9:00pm
Post-banquet festivities

Sunday – 4/12/2026: Final Events
-10:00am-12:00pm
Education Committee Ethnobotany Workshop with Scott Dersam and Sari Dersam:
Sunday, April 12th between 10-12. This workshop will discuss the methods and practices for identifying Indigenous conservation and landscape-tending behaviors in the archaeological record. We provide an overview of how these methods enable archaeologists to observe the physical manifestation of these practices, providing multiple methodologies anthropologists can rely on to present the long, diverse histories of the landscape, particularly when surficial expressions of ‘artifacts’ are not present on a landform.