The Society of Museum Archaeology exists to:

• Promote museum involvement in all aspects of archaeology and emphasise the unique contribution of museums to the essential unity of the archaeological profession
• Promote greater public understanding of the archaeological past and a fuller public appreciation of the importance of archaeology
• Campaign for the acceptance of museums as guardians of a vital part of the nation’s heritage and as the appropriate location for the storage and interpretation of all archaeological material
• Develop a coherent philosophy for the role of archaeologists in museums

It aims to achieve this by

• Acting as a pressure group within the museum profession and offering advice to the Museums Association and other national bodies on current issues of archaeological importance
• Encouraging closer relations with colleagues outside museums, and with other organisations involved in archaeology
• Working towards the improvement of all aspects of archaeological work in museums