SHAP 2026
Extent Heritage is excited to host the 2026 edition of the Sydney Historical Archaeology Practitioners Workshop (SHAP). The event will be held on Friday, 22 May at the Museum of Sydney. This year’s theme is ‘People, Power and Place’.
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SHAP 2026 is presented as part of National Archaeology Week (18-24 May 2026).
The event will run from 8:30 to 4:30, and will be followed by drinks at a local pub. The full event program will be shared on our channels closer to the date.
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This year’s theme, People, Power and Place, invites reflection on how historical archaeology shapes and is shaped by authority, community, and the landscapes we work within. The program will bring together professionals from across New South Wales to share recent projects, emerging methodologies, and critical perspectives on practice.
Ticket prices include attendance at all sessions, morning and afternoon tea, lunch, continuous tea and coffee, a SHAP 2026 attendee pack, and a complimentary drink at the post-event gathering.
Attendance is capped at 120 participants to maintain a focused and engaged environment.
Ticket pricing
Full Price: $120
AAA, ASHA or AACAI Member: $100
Student Admission: $75
To secure your place, visit the SHAP 2026 Humanitix page via the button below.
Call for Abstracts
People, Power and Place
Historical archaeology is never neutral. It operates within systems of governance, development, regulation and community memory, shaping how places are understood, whose histories are prioritised, and how authority is exercised over land and material culture. The SHAP 2026 theme, People, Power and Place, invites practitioners to reflect on these relationships and consider how power structures, community voices and the character of place influence what is investigated, preserved and interpreted.
Across New South Wales and beyond, historical archaeology sits at the intersection of policy, development and cultural value. SHAP 2026 provides a collegial forum for sharing practical insights, critical reflections and innovative approaches that examine not only what we excavate, but why, for whom, and with what impact. We welcome contributions from across the breadth of professional and academic practice.
Abstract Submission Information
The SHAP 2026 program will feature both 20-minute presentations and five-minute lightning talks. If you would like to submit an expression of interest for either format, please follow the guidelines below.
Submission Deadline: 1 May 2026
SHAP 2026 Abstract Submission – Fill out form
For 20-minute presentations, please provide:
Presentation title
An abstract of 150 to 300 words
Presenter and any co-author names
Organisational affiliation
For five-minute presentations, please provide:
Presentation title
A summary of your proposed talk
Organisational affiliation
Please note that presenters are required to attend the workshop if their submission is accepted.
National Archaeology Week Shap Bake it competition
As part of National Archaeology Week, we invite attendees to create a baked contribution inspired by archaeology or this year’s theme, People, Power and Place. Interpret the theme however you wish, whether through materials, symbolism, site references or storytelling in edible form.
How to enter:
Register your interest by emailing shap2026@extent.com.au by 1 May 2026
Deliver your baked creation to the Museum of Sydney, Cnr Bridge Street & Phillip St, Sydney NSW 2000, on Friday 22 May 2026.
All entries must be submitted by 9 am and include a full ingredients list clearly identifying any allergens such as nuts, egg, dairy or gluten.
A prize will be awarded to the winning entry.
Contact us
For enquiries, please reach out to shap2026@extent.com.au