The Slovak Archaeological Society (SAS) is a voluntary non-political professional association that provides framework for joint cooperation of professionals or enthusiasts in the field of archaeology. Operating as an affiliate of the Slovak Academy of Sciences under the patronage of the Council of Slovak Scientific Associations, it has a membership of around 320 archaeology professionals, enthusiasts or supporters devoted to protection and preservation of archaeological heritage.<\/p>\n
Its main mission is to promote and enhance scientific work, research and public education in the field of archaeology, to assist in preservation and protection of archaeological finds and archaeological sites, and to bring together professionals and enthusiasts.<\/p>\n
The SAS assists its members in their occupational duties or scientific efforts, protects their professional interests and keeps them up-to-date with the recent developments in the field.<\/p>\n
For such purposes, the Society organises a broad range of events such as expert meetings, seminars or lectures, and also conducts its own editing and publishing activities.<\/p>\n
The main category of the SAS membership are the ordinary members who can be either archaeology-related professionals, or members of public whose admission is recommended by two SAS members.<\/p>\n
Besides the ordinary members, the Society also has collective members (organisations or associations), and honorary members.<\/p>\n
The members are kept informed on the Society\u2019s activities and receive invitations for all its events, enjoying the right to participate and to initiate other activities. After payment of the membership fee the members get free subscription to the Inform\u00e1tor<\/em> bulletin (published once or twice a year).<\/p>\n The members have an obligation to pay annual membership fees, abide by the applicable law and regulations related to protection of archaeological heritage, and to respect the ethical principles of scientific research.<\/p>\n The governance bodies of the Society consist of the General Meeting, the Executive Board and the Presidency.<\/p>\n Included in the organisational structure of the Society are also expert sections and committees, such as the Antique Glass Committee.<\/p>\n The Society is funded from its own membership fees and from subsidies received through the Council of Slovak Scientific Associations of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. The SAS runs its own library and an archive of scientific and research reports.<\/p>\n History of the Slovak Archaeological Society<\/p>\n Following the World War II, the growing number of professional Slovak archaeologists (albeit still rather low, compared to current standards) inspired a demand for a professional platform to be formed. The initiative materialised on 22 February 1956, when the Czechoslovak Archaeological Society (\u010cSSA) was founded in Liblice as an association operating under the auspices of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, after the prior approval of the Society\u2019s Statutes by the Ministry of Interior (as required by the laws of the period). The first \u010cSSA Executive Board, elected at the founding meeting, consisted of the following officers: J\u00e1n Eisner (President), V. Denkstein, J. Dekan (Vice-Presidents), M. Buchvaldek (Secretary), Z. V\u00e1\u0148a (Treasurer), J. B\u00f6hm, J. B\u0159e\u0148, J. Poul\u00edk, K. Tihelka and A. To\u010d\u00edk (Board members). \u0160. Jan\u0161\u00e1k and M. Novotn\u00e1 were appointed to establish a branch of the Society in Slovakia (which was a part of the Czechoslovak Republic at that time). The agreed annual membership fee was CSK 10.00.<\/p>\n The Slovak Section of the \u010cSSA was founded at the \u010cSSA annual General Meeting, held in Bratislava on 23 March 1956, with 36 participants applying for membership. The meeting was opened and chaired by J\u00e1n Dekan. Elected into leading positions of the Slovak \u010cSSA Section were \u0160. Jan\u0161\u00e1k (President), J. Dekan (Vice-President), M. Novotn\u00e1 (Secretary), \u013d. Kraskovsk\u00e1 (Treasurer), A. To\u010d\u00edk, V. Ondrouch, V. Budinsk\u00fd-Kri\u010dka and J. P\u00e1stor (Board members). M. Du\u0161ek and J. Nettich were elected Auditors.<\/p>\n In its first year of existence, the Slovak Section of the \u010cSSA organised a number of events. The first of them was a lecture on the research of Germanic cremation graves in O\u010dkov, dated to the Late Roman Empire era, given at the founding meeting by T. Koln\u00edk. At the next General Meeting, held on 29 November 1956, a presentation on Slavic burial mounds in Skalica was given by V. Budinsk\u00fd-Kri\u010dka. The third event was a ceremonial gathering marking the 70th<\/sup> birthday of \u0160. Jan\u0161\u00e1k, held at Dev\u00edn Hotel in Bratislava, a venue which was a benchmark of glamour and luxury at that time.<\/p>\n From 1957 on, the Society began to issue its Zpr\u00e1vy \u010cSSA<\/em> periodical, published in Brno, with F. Kalousek as the Chief Editor and M. Novotn\u00e1 as a representative of Slovak archaeologists on the editorial board. The members obtained a free subscription to the bulletin.<\/p>\n Vladim\u00edr Tur\u010dan<\/p>\n List of the founding members of the Slovak Archaeological Society:<\/p>\n List of current members of the Slovak Archaeological Society:<\/p>\n\n