Upcoming Meeting

Online Registration and Abstract Submission will open in Summer 2025

Joint Meeting with Plains Anthropological Society
Iowa City, Iowa (October 29- November 1, 2025)

Graduate Hotel & Conference Center
210 South Dubuque Street, Iowa City, IA

Meeting Organizers and Contact Information

Support for Students and Tribal Members

Students

To promote and encourage student attendance at the conference, all undergraduate and graduate students will receive free conference registrations. In addition, PAS and MAC separately offer travel grants to offset hotel and travel costs. The number and size of the travel grant will depend on funding availability. If interested in the student travel grant, please review the organization's rules and procedures for eligibility and application process. 

PAS Undergraduate Student Travel Grant: Click here

MAC Undergraduate and Graduate Travel Grant: [details TBD]

Tribal Members

Collaborations between archaeologists and tribal members is a critical part of our profession. To assist Tribal and Native Nation members with costs associated with attending the MAC Annual Meeting, all tribal members will receive free conference registrations. In addition, PAS and MAC are working to establish a fund to support travel grants for tribal members [more information will be posted when available]

Please Sponsor! We Need Your Help!

This joint Plains Anthropological Society - Midwest Archaeological Conference annual meeting is made possible through our generous sponsors—this should include you! For 2025, in addition to supporting the annual meeting expenses, we are providing funding to encourage participation and attendance by students and Tribal members. Please consider providing support—all donations are tax-deductible.

We are offering several sponsorship tiers for institutions as well as opportunities for individual donors. Please make a donation—small or large—through the PAS or MAC websites. Thank you! 

The MAC Student Travel Grant

MAC is establishing a separate fund to encourage attendance of graduate and undergraduate students to our Annual Meetings. With ever increasing costs, we realize that more and more students cannot afford to participate in our Annual Meetings. This Grant Fund is an effort to alleviate this difficulty.  An anonymous donor has offered to match donations up to $10,000, but to get this process started, we need donations from you to get the process started. Please consider donating to this worthy cause. Any amount is appreciated since it will move us closer to our goal. The number of students we can fund will be determined by the total donations received.

Donate Here

The MAC Tribal Attendance Fund

The MAC Tribal Attendance Fund is a separate fund used to assist Tribal and Native Nation members with costs associated with attending the MAC Annual Meeting. Collaborations between archaeologists and tribal members have been steadily increasing in recent years and have become an important part of our future profession. This fund will allow more tribal members to attend our meetings and share their knowledge with our community. Please consider donating to this worthy cause. Any amount is appreciated since it will all be directed towards financial assistance to Tribal/Native Nations member attendance to the meetings.

Donate Here

Hotel and Parking

Hotel

Conference Hotel:

Graduate Hotel & Conference Center
210 South Dubuque Street, Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 248-4460

Conference Hotel Rates:

• Attendee ($139/night, includes parking) group code: PASMAC: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/rooms/?ctyhocn=CIDGIGU&arrivalDate=2025-10-28&departureDate=2025-11-02&groupCode=PASMAC 

• Check in time is any time after 4:00PM; Check out will be any time before 11:00AM

• Parking is provided complimentary for all overnight guests in the PASMAC group.

• The GYM fitness center is open 24/7 and complimentary for guests

• Poindexter Coffee Shop is open 7 days a week 7a-5p, serving breakfast and lunch options.

• Wilder Bar & Restaurant is open 7-days a week, 4p - Close

• Reservation cut-off date is October 21, 2025.

• If anyone has any questions or issues making their reservation, please contact Adam Kahler (adam.kahler@schultehospitality.com) or Tyler Shannon (Guest Services Manager) - tyler.shannon@schultehospitality.com).

Parking and Directions

Parking is available in the parking garage adjacent to the Graduate Hotel; parking is included for those registered at the hotel.    

[view/print PDF of Graduate one-page flyer]

Airport and Ground Transportation Options

The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) is the located approximately 23 miles north of Iowa City and is the nearest airport to the conference. Other nearby regional airports including Quad Cities International Aiport (MLI) and Des Moines International Airport (DSM)

The Eastern Iowa Airport offers various airport ground transportation services , including: 

Shuttle and Limo Services at Eastern Iowa Airport:

Airport Express: 319-626-5466 or 800-383-2219

ACS Airport Shuttle Service (includes black car/limo): acsairportshuttle@anamancs.com, 319-382-5839 (office), 319-471-2374 (hotline)

Xquisite Limo, LLC: https://www.xquisitelimo.com/, 319-929-5466

Express Limousine Service: 319-626-5466

Taxi Services at Eastern Iowa Airport:

Rideshare Services at Eastern Iowa Airport:

https://www.lyft.com/	https://www.uber.com/

Registration Steps and Options

Opens in June 2025

Registration must occur prior to submission of paper or poster abstracts. Early registration rates are available to 11:59 PM CDT on October 3, 2025 and should be purchased online through either the PAS or MAC websites. As of October 4th, all online registration will be closed and late registration rates will be reserved for in-person purchase at the meeting. 

A digital version of the meeting program with abstracts will be available as a .pdf file on the website and on a downloadable app. A paper copy of the meeting program may be requested for an extra charge ($6) as part of registration when purchased online. 

Registration fee includes the Wednesday evening Early Bird Party (heavy appetizers, beer and wine), AM and PM coffee breaks (n = 5), and a drink ticket for the Thursday “happy hour” poster session. 

The Student Workshop (Friday lunch hour) has no fee but requires pre-registration (limited to the first 70 students, includes box lunch/beverage). 

Tours, the Thursday evening reception options, and the Friday banquet have additional costs and require pre-registration.

Registration Steps

1. Look through and decide which registration option from the list below is most appropriate for you.

2. Visit the Registration Page to choose your options and make your payment. 

Student Workshop

All You Want to Know about Archaeological Drone Use 
Friday, October 31, 2025 (11:30 am-1:00 pm)
Cost: free for students, limited to the first 70 students to register
Lunch will be provided. 

Hear from archaeologists with drone expertise on all aspects of using this exciting technology including logistics of flight planning; compliance issues (institutional, federal, state, and local); using various cameras (thermal, high resolution photogrammetry, lidar); and see examples of data collection and processing. Several drones and various support equipment will be available for hands-on inspection!

Receptions

Receptions are planned for each evening of the conference. Please register for some or all of these receptions on your My Meeting Preferences.

1. An Early Bird/Welcome Party will be held at the conference hotel starting at 6:00 pm on Wednesday evening. Advance registration on My Meeting Preferences is required. Heavy appetizers and beer/wine included in registration cost. 

2. A Happy Hour Poster Session will be held Thursday 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the nearby Hotel Vetro; one drink ticket included in the registration fee (then cash bar available). Advance registration on My Meeting Preferences is required. 

3. Two evening receptions will be held simultaneously Thursday at the Reunion Bar and Big Grove Brewery (both walking distance from the conference hotel) from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. These casual events cost $15 and include heavy appetizers and one drink ticket (then cash bar available). Advance registration on My Meeting Preferences is required.

4. Following the MAC and PAS business meetings (Friday afternoon 5:00 - 6:00 pm, rooms tbd) there will be a cash bar starting at 6:00 pm at the nearby Hotel Vetro followed at 7:00 pm by the banquet and speaker starting ca. 8:00 pm. Buffet style with wine and dessert included [add speaker details]. Advance registration on My Meeting Preferences is required for the banquet (attending to hear the speaker does not require advance registration but space may be limited).

Field Trips and Tours

• Eastern Iowa Heritage Bus Tour (Wednesday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, October 29th) – bus tour to the Meskwaki Tribal Cultural Center featuring Meskwaki Tribal Historian Johnathan Buffalo; lunch (at your expense) at the Meskwaki Casino buffet; followed by tour of the recently updated Cedar Rapids African-American Museum. Fee ($25, limit 50 participants) includes bus transportation and admissions. Advance registration on My Meeting Preferences is required.

• University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist Repository Open House (Friday Oct. 31 between 1:00 and 4:00 pm pm) with Research Collections Director Carrie Parris. Walk (five blocks south, ~10 minutes) from the Graduate Hotel to 700 South Clinton Street. No fee.

• Self-tours: University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums (Macbride Hall Museum of Natural History and Old Capitol Museum) (these two buildings are ca. 3 blocks northwest of the Graduate Hotel). No fee.

• Self-tours: University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art – archaeological exhibition (ca. 4 blocks west of the Graduate Hotel). No fee.

• Self-tour: Iowa City Walking Tour

Behavioral Expectations

To help prevent incidents of harassment in any form at the annual meeting, the PAS-MAC 2025 organizers on behalf of the respective Boards have established a policy requiring all annual meeting registrants to certify that they are not currently cited or censured under Title IX, by the Register of Professional Archaeologists, or by any other adjudicating body, or subject to a current restraining or no-contact order issued by a judicial authority. Registration for the annual meeting will not be possible without this certification step being completed. If you have any questions about this policy, please contact the PAS or MAC presidents. 

Abstract Submissions

Papers on all topics of interest to Plains and Midwestern archaeologists, early precontact to recent historic, are welcome. Papers will generally be 20 minutes in length, but symposia organizers may propose other formats. Abstracts should be no more than 150 words. Symposium organizers will submit an abstract for each symposium online through the PAS or MAC website. Symposium submissions must include the symposium title, symposium abstract, and a list of all symposium presentations by contributor(s). Symposium organizers create a unique key code and provide it to presenters – presenters then use this code in their individual submissions. Symposia organizers are encouraged to plan ahead to avoid last-minute scheduling issues.

After registering for the meeting, PAS and MAC members can submit their abstract submission(s).

Paper and Poster Abstract Submissions:

Submission deadline is October 3, 2024.

All paper and poster presentation submissions will be done online through the annual meeting links on the PAS and MAC websites.

• Each individual submission must include the following: Title, Author(s) (with institutions), and Abstract Text. Each presenter may submit multiple presentations; there is no limit to the number of co-authorships. *If a presenter has conflicting presentations (scheduled at the same time), it is their responsibility to find someone to present their papers.

• Abstracts are limited to 150 words in length.

• If your presentation is part of a symposium, you must also include the symposium Key Code provided by the symposium's organizer.

• Poster dimensions must not exceed 48 x 48 inches (students should identify as such as all student posters will be featured during the Thursday Happy Hour Poster Session).

•  

Symposium Abstract Submissions:

Submission deadline is October 3, 2024.

Symposium organizers will submit an abstract for each symposium online through the MAC website.

• Each submission must include the following: Symposium Title, Symposium Abstract Text, and List of all Symposium Presentations with Author(s).

• Symposium organizers must create a unique Key Code and provide it to their presenters.

• Abstracts are limited to 150 words in length.

Student Paper and Poster Competitions

The Midwestern Archaeological Conference Student Paper and Poster competition was created to promote scholarly excellence among students conducting archaeological research in the midwestern U.S. Awards will be decided by the MAC student paper and poster committee based on intellectual merit and methodological execution.

• The poster winner receives a cash prize of $150 plus books solicited by the conference organizer from willing vendors.
• The paper winner receives a cash prize of $150 plus books solicited by the conference organizer from willing vendors.

**see PAS website for details about the PAS Student Paper and Poster Competition

Eligibility:

Anyone currently enrolled in a degree granting institution may apply. Papers and posters must be single-authored and be submitted by the competition deadline. Both graduate and undergraduate students may apply; contributions will be evaluated with consideration given to experience-level of students in each category.

How to Apply:

Posters: When submitting your poster presentation abstract as a MAC student member, check the box indicating you would like to be considered for the student POSTER competition. You must register and submit your abstract by the submission deadline of October 3, 2025. By no later than 5:00 pm CDT on Thursday, October 23rd, please email your finalized poster as a pdf to the chair of the MAC Student Competition Review (sasso@uwp.edu) with the subject heading: MAC Student Poster Competition. 

Papers: When submitting your paper presentation abstract as a MAC student member, check the box indicating you would like to be considered for the student PAPER competition. You must register and submit your abstract by the submission deadline of October 3, 2025. By no later than 5:00pm CDT on Thursday, October 23rd, please email a detailed outline of your paper to the chair of the MAC Student Competition Review (sasso@uwp.edu) with the subject heading: MAC Student Paper Competition. The paper presented at the conference must have the same content as the outline submitted to the competition review committee.  The submitted outline should be detailed, well-organized, and must include an introduction, research question, discussion of data or results, and conclusions. The outline may not exceed 10 double spaced pages of text with 12 pt. font.  Accompanying figures, tables, and references cited may be placed on separate pages at the end of the paper and will not count toward the 10-page limit. Outlines exceeding 10 pages in length will not be read or otherwise included in the competition.

All submitted posters and papers must include a cover page with the paper title, abstract, the student’s name, and the degree-granting program and their current status in that program. Students should indicate their academic advisor on the cover page. Evaluation rubrics for posters and papers will be provided at a later date. Papers will be evaluated based on the submitted outline AND the oral presentation during the conference.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:  5 pm Thursday, October 23rd, 2025

The winners of the competitions will be announced at the Annual Business Meeting of the Midwest Archaeological Conference and recognized at the banquet, to which the winners will receive one complimentary ticket each. The winner(s) will receive their prize(s) the following day. The Committee reserves the prerogative to defer the Competition and award in the event of a shortage of entries.

Preliminary Schedule of Events

Additional details will be posted when available.

Wednesday:

• Heritage Tourism Eastern Iowa bus tour/lunch @ $25/person (advance registration)
• Plains Anthropological Society (PAS) full Board Meeting (by invitation)
• Early Bird/Welcome Party at the Graduate Hotel (heavy appetizers, beer/wine, then cash bar)

Thursday:

• AM/PM: Paper symposia and general sessions (up to four concurrent)
• Hotel Vetro Happy Hour Poster Session 4:00 - 6:00 PM (drink ticket, cash bar; up to 50 posters)
• Reception Option #1: Reunion Bar 6-9 PM ($15—advance reg, heavy apps/1 drink ticket, cash bar)
• Reception Option #2: Big Grove Brewery 6-9 PM ($15—advance reg, heavy apps/1 drink ticket, cash bar)
• AM/PM: Paper symposia and general sessions (up to four concurrent)
• 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Student Workshop ($0—advance reg) box lunches, soft drinks
• 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM MAC Board lunch meeting at Graduate (by invitation)
• 5:00 – 6:00 PM: PAS and MAC Business Meetings (separate rooms, tbd)
• Banquet Hotel Vetro ($45—advance reg); cash bar and Guest Speaker (open to all)

Friday:

• AM/PM: Paper symposia and general sessions (up to four concurrent)
• 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Student Workshop ($0—advance reg) box lunches, soft drinks
• 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM MAC Board lunch meeting at Graduate (by invitation)
• 5:00 – 6:00 PM: PAS and MAC Business Meetings (separate rooms, tbd)
• Banquet Hotel Vetro ($45—advance reg); cash bar and Guest Speaker (open to all)

Saturday:

• AM: Paper symposia and general sessions (up to four concurrent)—including an Iowa-focused session
• PM Field trips (tbd)