Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ur- und Frühgeschichte
Professional services
UnclaimedA nationwide German archaeological association connecting professional archaeologists, students and interested members of the public.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ur- und Frühgeschichte e.V. (DGUF), or German Society for Prehistory and Protohistory, is an independent voluntary association concerned with archaeology from prehistory through the early historical period. Founded in 1969 and registered in Bonn, it developed in the context of post-1968 debates about the organization, methods and public responsibilities of archaeological scholarship. The society was established by 17 students and young academics associated with prehistory institutes in Cologne, Marburg and Freiburg im Breisgau. DGUF was created partly to prevent the revival of a historically problematic institutional name associated with the nationalist and racist orientation of German prehistory research during the Nazi period. Its founders sought an organization that would support methodological innovation, interdisciplinary exchange and a critical examination of the discipline's own traditions. This emphasis on institutional independence and reflexive scholarship remains central to the association's identity. The society brings together professional archaeologists, students, researchers and private citizens. It is described as the largest German association active in prehistory and early history, with more than 700 members, and is distinctive because it offers individual personal membership on a nationwide basis. DGUF serves as a forum for discussion rather than as a commercial brand: its work includes public communication, professional and university-policy debates, cultural-heritage protection, archaeological education and engagement with political and regulatory processes. A major recurring activity is the annual conference, normally held over three days after the Ascension holiday. The program combines scholarly presentations, an excursion to archaeological sites and opportunities for members and guests to exchange ideas. The meeting also provides the setting for the German Archaeology Prize and the German Students Award for Archaeology. These awards recognize outstanding scientific achievements, contributions to communication between archaeology and the public, methodological development and student research or university-policy engagement. DGUF's publishing program is a central part of its public and scholarly role. Its journal, Archäologische Informationen, began in 1972 and is known for interdisciplinary coverage and a forum format that allows opposing positions to be presented in dialogue. Since 2013, the journal has been published under a platinum open-access model, while earlier print volumes have been progressively digitized. The society also publishes Archäologische Berichte, a research-report series established in 1987, and Archäologische Quellen, founded in 2017. The association has promoted open scholarly access, including by signing the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities in 2016. DGUF also communicates through a free monthly newsletter, its website and social-media channels. It has participated in professional and policy networks in Germany and Europe. It was a member of the Deutscher Verband der Archäologie from 2011 to 2019 and established cooperation arrangements with the European Association of Archaeologists and the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists in 2018. The association's current president is Diane Scherzler. It is governed by a three-person board elected on a rotating basis for two-year periods, supported by co-opted committee members and topic-focused study groups.
History
DGUF emerged from a period of institutional and intellectual change in German archaeology. In the aftermath of the student movement of 1968, students in prehistory programs formed the Schleswiger Kreis, or Schleswig Circle. The group sought better communication among university institutes, closer cooperation between archaeology and neighboring disciplines, and new approaches to the study of the past. Between 1970 and 1976, it issued an information bulletin devoted to research areas related to prehistory. The immediate trigger for establishing DGUF came in early 1969, when Bolko Freiherr von Richthofen called on universities in the Federal Republic to revive the Gesellschaft für Deutsche Vorgeschichte. That earlier name was associated with the Mannusgesellschaft and with the nationalist and racist uses of German prehistory during the Nazi era. Members of the Schleswig Circle responded by organizing their own nationwide society before the name could be appropriated by another group. Seventeen students and young academics from Cologne, Marburg and Freiburg im Breisgau founded the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ur- und Frühgeschichte e.V.; the association was entered in the register of associations at Bonn District Court on October 27, 1969. From its beginning, DGUF presented itself as independent from established archaeological institutions while remaining open to cooperation with them. Its program combined support for professional archaeology with public participation and a critical approach to the discipline's own history. The association addressed the protection of cultural landscapes, archaeological research across different periods, public understanding of archaeology, university curricula, early-career conditions and the presentation of professional concerns to political decision-makers. It also became involved in European discussions about directives and legislation affecting archaeology and cultural heritage. The society's annual conference became one of its principal institutions. Meetings usually include scholarly papers, an excursion to nearby archaeological sites and presentations of the society's two awards: the German Archaeology Prize and the German Students Award for Archaeology. Conference locations have varied across Germany and neighboring regions. The 50th-anniversary conference took place in Bonn in 2019. Pandemic conditions led to a virtual annual meeting in 2020, while later meetings in 2022, 2023 and 2024 were held in Frankfurt am Main. Publishing has been another defining activity. DGUF launched Archäologische Informationen in 1972. The journal combines interdisciplinary research with a forum section designed to present disagreements and competing interpretations rather than suppress them. Since 2013 it has been available through platinum open access, and earlier issues have been digitized progressively. Archäologische Berichte, a series of archaeological research reports, began in 1987; newer volumes from volume 24 onward are open access, with earlier volumes also being digitized. In 2017 the society added Archäologische Quellen, another open-access series. DGUF adopted an increasingly digital and international profile. It has operated an internet presence since 1997 and has published a free monthly newsletter since 2012, alongside activity on Facebook, LinkedIn and X/Twitter. In 2016 it signed the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities. It belonged to the Deutscher Verband der Archäologie from 2011 through 2019 and later developed memorandum-based European partnerships with the European Association of Archaeologists and the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists in 2018. The association is governed by a rotating three-member board elected for two-year periods, assisted by co-opted members and specialist study groups. Diane Scherzler is identified as its current president in the available reference material.
- 2020
Annual meeting held virtually
[1]The COVID-19 pandemic leads DGUF to organize its annual conference online on September 3.
- 2019
Fiftieth anniversary conference held in Bonn
[1]DGUF commemorates five decades of activity with its annual meeting in Bonn from June 20 to 23.
- 2018
European cooperation agreements established
[1]DGUF enters memorandum-based partnerships with the European Association of Archaeologists and the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists.
- 2017
Archäologische Quellen is founded
[1]The society launches a new archaeological publication series designed for open access.
- 2016
Berlin Declaration on Open Access signed
[1]DGUF formally supports the Berlin Declaration on open access to knowledge in the sciences and humanities.
- 2013
Archäologische Informationen moves to platinum open access
[1]The journal becomes freely available without author or reader fees, while earlier print material is progressively digitized.
- 2012
Monthly newsletter launched
[1]DGUF begins publishing a free monthly newsletter for members and the wider archaeology community.
- 2011
DGUF joins the Deutscher Verband der Archäologie
[1]The association becomes a member of Germany's archaeological umbrella organization, a relationship that continues through 2019.
- 1997
DGUF establishes an internet presence
[1]The society begins maintaining an official website and expands its public information activities.
- 1987
Archäologische Berichte is established
[1]The society begins its archaeological research-report series.
Products and positioning
An independent, membership-based archaeological society emphasizing professional autonomy, interdisciplinary exchange, open scholarly communication, public engagement and critical reflection on the history and practice of archaeology.
Academic journal · 1972
Archäologische Informationen
DGUF's principal journal, first published in 1972, covers prehistory, protohistory and related archaeological fields. It encourages interdisciplinary work and includes a forum section in which contrasting positions can be presented and debated. Since 2013 it has been published through a platinum open-access model, and older print issues have been made freely available through retro-digitization.
Research-report series · 1987
Archäologische Berichte
A DGUF series for substantial archaeological research reports, established in 1987. Newer volumes, including those from volume 24 onward, are made available as open access, while earlier issues are progressively digitized for public use.
Archaeological publication series · 2017
Archäologische Quellen
An open-access series founded by DGUF in 2017 for publishing archaeological source-oriented research and related scholarly material.
Professional conference
DGUF Annual Conference
The society's principal annual gathering normally combines research presentations on Friday and Sunday with an archaeological excursion on Saturday. Members, invited guests and other interested participants can exchange ideas on research, heritage, public archaeology and professional matters.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Open-access advocacy
Germany · International scholarly community
DGUF signed the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities, reinforcing its publishing policy and advocacy for freely available archaeological research.
Outcome. The declaration became part of the society's public commitment to open scholarly communication.
- 2013Platinum open-access publishing
Germany · International scholarly community
DGUF made Archäologische Informationen freely available under a platinum open-access approach and began expanding access to its back catalogue through digitization.
Outcome. The journal and progressively digitized earlier volumes became accessible without subscription charges.
Brand decisions
2020
Move the annual conference onlineOtherBackground
COVID-19 restrictions disrupted normal in-person conference arrangements.
Action taken
DGUF organized its annual meeting as a virtual conference on September 3.
Aftermath
The society maintained its annual conference program despite the disruption to physical events.
2013
Adopt platinum open access for the flagship journalStrategyBackground
DGUF sought to broaden access to archaeological scholarship and reduce reliance on print-only distribution.
Action taken
Archäologische Informationen began publishing under a platinum open-access model, supported by digitization of older issues.
Aftermath
The journal became freely accessible to researchers, professionals, students and the public.
1969
Create an independent national archaeological societyStrategyBackground
The founders reacted to an attempt to revive a historically burdened name associated with nationalist and racist prehistory organizations.
Action taken
They established DGUF under a new name and registered it as an independent association.
Aftermath
The society developed as a nationwide membership organization emphasizing autonomy, critical historiography and public engagement.
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