The Scottish Archaeological Forum (SAF) was set up in 1969 in order to provide "an opportunity to hear, discuss and assess some of the important new discoveries and reinterpretations of material, either published or unpublished as yet, by all those working in the archaeological discipline in Scotland".

Scottish Archaeological Forum is run by a committee of archaeologists and its prime function is to organise conferences and workshops which further the study of archaeology in Scotland. The Committee usually convenes four times a year with the more detailed work of conference organisation being delegated to sub-committees. 

A large number of conferences have been organised over the years and the proceedings of many were made available as published volumes, either as one of the SAF's own volumes or by a commercial publisher. Recent conferences in the last five years have included subjects as diverse as Nationalism and Archaeology, Medieval or Later Rural Settlement and Industrial Archaeology.