The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland pursues the study of the antiquities and history of Scotland through various means, including publications, lectures, conferences, workshops and seminars, and by providing prizes, grants and other awards. The Society was founded in 1780 by David Steuart Erskine, the 11th Earl of Buchan (1742-1829), and was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1783.
The Society has been active in publication since the late 18th century. The first volumes of the transactions of the Society were published between 1792 and 1890 as Archaeologia Scotica. In 1851, the Society began to publish the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
2002 the Society began to make the entire contents of Archaeologia Scotica, the Proceedings, and out-of-print volumes in the book series available in digital form. These are now available to download free of charge from the server of the Archaeology Data Service.