International Workshop of African Archaeobotany
Cairo, 9–11 November 2026
American University in Cairo
International Workshop of African Archaeobotany
View the Second Call for Papers for the International Workshop of African Archaeobotany, held at the American University in Cairo on 9–11 November 2026. Access details on abstract submission, important deadlines, session topics, and program highlights for researchers in archaeobotany and related fields.
Date: 9–11 November 2026
Location: American University in Cairo
Prof. Ahmed G. Fahmy Memorial Prize
Since 2015, the “Prof. Ahmed G. Fahmy Memorial Speaker” prize has been awarded to promising early-career scholars from Africa. It supports young researchers in archaeobotany and related fields to share their work at IWAA. Learn Learn More…
About the International Workshop of African Archaeobotany
Founded in 1994, the International Workshop for African Archaeobotany (IWAA) showcases new research on archaeological plant remains across Africa, supporting the understanding of past human-plant relationships within changing environments.
IWAA XI will be held in Egypt in 2026. It will run between November 9th, 2026 and November 11th, 2026, with an excursion in Cairo on November 12th.
Conference research spans the entire African continent, covering diverse environments from Mediterranean to tropical forest and desert regions. Material studied includes macroremains like seeds and fruits, and microremains such as phytoliths and pollen.
IWAA offers a multidisciplinary forum to present and discuss findings on current research. Interdisciplinary elements include historical, ethnological, anthropological, ethnographic, linguistic, molecular, and geochemical analyses related to ancient plant use. Themes encompass agriculture, food practices, crafts, funeral rituals, diffusion dynamics, trade, plant domestication, fuel management, and landscape evolution.
IWAA XI will be organised and hosted by the American University in Cairo, alongside other partners who will be announced in due course.
For questions, please contact us on: iwaa2026cairo@gmail.com
Important Dates
1st November 2025
Deadline for submission of abstracts
15th January 2026
Deadline for submitting Dr Ahmed G. Fahmy prize applications
26th February 2026
Informing authors of selected oral paper and posters
1st March – 30th April 2026
Early bird registration
30th April – 30th Sept 2026
Regular registration
9-12th November 2026
Conference
Scientific Committee
Alemseged Beldados
Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Anna-Maria Mercuri
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
Charlène Bouchaud
CNRS/National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France
Claire Malleson
American University of Beirut, Lebanon
Dorian Q. Fuller
University College, London, UK
Jacob Morales
University of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain
Jérôme Ros
CNRS/Université Montpellier, France
Katharina Neumann
Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Leonor Peña Chocarro
Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain
Louis Champion
University of Montpellier, France
Margareta Tengberg
National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France
Mennat-Allah El Dorry
American University in Cairo/Ain Shams University, Egypt
Philippa Ryan
Kew Gardens, UK
Salima Ikram
American University in Cairo, Egypt
Sarah Walshaw
Simon Fraser University, Canada
Organising Committee
Mennat-Allah El Dorry
American University in Cairo/Ain Shams University, Egypt
Claire Malleson
American University of Beirut, Lebanon
Salima Ikram
American University in Cairo, Egypt
Hadeel Zahran
Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt