SHAP 2026

Extent Heritage is excited to host the 2026 edition of the NSW Statewide 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’. 

To receive notifications and updates, please join the Facebook event or LinkedIn event, or follow us on Instagram for the latest updates. 

SHAP’26 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.   

Tickets are now on sale!  

Historical archaeology practitioners, academics and students are invited to attend SHAP 2026. 

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 
SHAP Member: $100 
Student Admission: $75 

To secure your place, visit the SHAP 2026 Humanitix page via the button below. 

[tickets button] 

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 2026 SHAP 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: 30 April 2026  

Submit To: shap2026@extent.com.au 

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 short 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 30 April 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.