Aerial Archaeology Research Group
2026 Annual Meeting
Plzeň, Czechia
10-12 September, 2026
The AARG Committee is pleased to announce that the 43rd AARG Annual Meeting will take place from 10–12 September 2026 in Plzeň (Pilsen), Czechia, followed by a field trip on 12 September 2026.
The conference is jointly organised by AARG, the Department of Archaeology at the University of West Bohemia, and the West Bohemian Museum in Plzeň, with support from the University of West Bohemia, the Faculty of Arts, the Department of Archaeology, the Centre for Digital Archaeology (CDA).
The main conference venue is the West Bohemian Museum, located near the historic centre of Plzeň, within walking distance of major landmarks and accommodation options.
The Department of Archaeology at the University of West Bohemia is a dynamic research and teaching institution specialising in prehistoric, medieval, and post-medieval archaeology. It combines theoretical and field-based research with advanced digital methodologies, including landscape archaeology, digital modelling, spatial analysis, and GIS-based approaches. The department is further supported by two specialised research centres – the Centre for Digital Archaeology (CDA) and the Centre for Archaeological Applications (CAA) – which play a key role in innovation and international collaboration.
Themes
We invite proposals for oral presentations (20 mins) and posters (A1 portrait) aligning with the following themes:
This theme will feature papers focusing on archaeological landscapes in and around the Bohemian Massiff and Western Carpathians. Contributions may highlight recent discoveries, ongoing research projects and regional perspectives building on aerial archaeology and other remote sensing approaches. Papers addressing the integration of aerial data with other archaeological methods in regional and transregional research are particularly welcome.
This theme will explore the use of aerial and satellite data in investigations of archaeological remains in built-up environment. Contributions may address the detection and documentation of buried remains in cities as well as the analysis of historic urban landscapes. In addition, the papers in this theme may explore monitoring of archaeological heritage in rapidly transforming built-up context and assess risks to urban archaeological heritage
This theme will explore the relationship between past human activities, heritage, and environmental processes. Contributions may address environmental reconstruction building on palaeoenvironmental data, computational landscape reconstruction models, and predictive modelling. Papers in this theme may present the integration of aerial and remote sensing data in multi-layered interpretation of past landscapes and settlement systems. Finally, this theme will address threats to cultural heritage resulting from environmental processes whilst demonstrating how aerial archaeology and remote sensing can help to understand and mitigate the risk
New prospection methods, data sources, algorithms, and approaches constantly strengthen aerial approach. This theme may include papers on the use of novel sensors, high-frequency and very high-resolution satellite imagery as well as UAVs, now widely adopted in localised surveys. It will also encompass presentations on the use of Artificial Intelligence for big data and large-scale analysis including feature detection. Other papers may showcase improvements to archaeological practice such as novel data visualisation techniques and processing workflows
We invite proposals for the presentations which can cover a wide range of archaeological questions and different research approaches demonstrating strong aerial components. Surveys and research spanning between spatial scales from regional landscape analysis to detailed investigations of individual sites and their structural components are particularly welcome. Papers accepted for the open call will be grouped by motif or location
Paper submissions
Please use this form to submit your paper/poster proposal for the AARG 2026 International Aerial Archaeology Conference. Please refer to the Bursaries section if you wish to apply for the AARG 2026 bursaries.
The closing date for all proposals is Sunday, 31st May 2026.
Registration
Registration for AARG2026 in Plzeň will open in early June 2026.
Preliminary programme
Wednesday, 9 September 2026
Welcome Reception
Thursday, 10 September 2026
Registration
Welcome
Conference Day 1
Informal social event
Friday, 11 September 2026
Conference Day 2
Conference Dinner
Saturday, 12 September 2026
Half-day guided tour of Plzeň
Full-day excursion to the Říp region
Practical Information
The conference events will be taking place in several locations in Plzeň, as listed below:
- Welcome Reception: Faculty of Arts, University of West Bohemia, Sedláčkova 268/38, 301 00 Plzeň
- Conference Venue: West Bohemian Museum, Kopeckého sady 2, 301 00 Plzeň
- Conference dinner: Pilsner Urquell Brewery – Red Hall (Na Spilce), U Prazdroje 64/7, 301 00 Plzeň
- Field trip meeting point: To be confirmed (details will be provided with the final programme)
- Guided tour meeting point: In front of the Tourist Information Centre, náměstí Republiky 41, 301 00 Plzeň
Plzeň is a major cultural, historical, and industrial centre in West Bohemia, located at the confluence of four rivers. The city is renowned for its architectural heritage, including St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, the Renaissance Town Hall, and one of the largest synagogues in the world. It is also internationally known as the birthplace of Pilsner beer, first brewed in 1842, which has since become a global benchmark for lager production.
Accessibility
Conference Venue
The conference venue is accessible via ramps and an elevator, ensuring easy entry for all visitors. The elevator is operated by staff and the facility is suitable for guests with limited mobility.
Welcome Reception Venue
The welcome reception venue offers only partial accessibility, with a step at the entrance that requires assistance. There are no accessible toilets on site, but facilities are available nearby.
Conference Dinner Venue
The conference dinner venue is fully accessible and designed to accommodate all guests comfortably. It offers a barrier-free environment, making it suitable for wheelchair users..
Field trip
The field trip involves travel by bus and visits to outdoor locations, where uneven terrain, grassy areas, and short walks are expected. Accessibility is limited for participants with reduced mobility, as not all locations are wheelchair accessible, and suitable outdoor footwear is recommended.
Bursaries
Student/Young Researchers Bursaries
These bursaries are intended to support students and young researchers who are interested in aerial archaeology and wish to attend and present at the AARG conference.
Please provide the following information in an email to @ AARG Chair headed with 2026 Student/Young Researcher Bursary:
- your interests in archaeology and aerial archaeology
- place of study
- the name and contact details of a supervisor or employer (email) who can provide a reference
- why you would benefit from attending the conference
- an estimate of travel costs and accomodation to attend
You should be willing to provide a poster, or an abstract for a paper under one of the conference session themes listed above.
Crisis-affected nations Bursaries
These bursaries are intended to support researchers from crisis-affected nations who are interested in sharing their work and wish to attend and present at the AARG conference.
Please provide the following information in an email to @ AARG Chair headed with 2026 Crisis-affected Nations Bursary:
- your interests in archaeology and aerial archaeology
- affiliation
- the name and contact details of a supervisor or employer (email) who can provide a reference
- an estimate of travel and accomodation costs to attend
You should be willing to provide a poster, or an abstract for a paper under one of the conference session themes listed above.
