The Canadian Archeological Association (CAA; French: Association canadienne d'archéologie) is the primary archaeological organization in Canada.
The CAA was founded in 1968 by a group of archaeologists that included William E. Taylor, the head of the Archaeology Division at the National Museum of Canada.
[2] It recognises outstanding lifetime contributions to Canadian archaeology and is named for the pioneering archaeologists Harlan I. Smith and William J. Wintemberg.
The nomination process is rigorous, requiring at least two letters of recommendation from peers, and as such the award is not given every year, only on merit.
[3] The Smith-Wintemberg Award is considered highly prestigious[2][4][5] and has been described as the "highest recognition in Canadian archaeology".