The purpose of the CAASW is to advance the study and practice of archaeoastronomy of the American Southwest. The CAASW is committed to recognizing significant contributions to knowledge and the importance of research, professional standards and excellence in the study of archaeoastronomy, effective dissemination and presentation of archaeoastronomical knowledge, and innovation and originality of approach.

The American Southwest was one of the early and fruitful areas of cultural astronomy study, and remains so to this day.  However, the opportunity for professional and avocational archaeoastronomers to share their research has been limited.  To mark the International Year of Astronomy 2009, and to provide a forum to promote research and a better understanding of the cultural significance of astronomical knowledge among American Southwest cultures, the first biennial Conference on Archaeoastronomy of the American Southwest (CAASW) was held from June 11-13, 2009.  The theme of the conference, held in Camp Verde, Arizona, was "Creating Sustainability in American Southwest Archaeoastronomy Research."

The success of this conference was followed by the Archaeoastronomy in the Field Workshop, held at the Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park in Phoenix Arizona on March 11-12, 2010. The workshop presented an intense and hands-on series of presentatons and discussions to further the standardization of archaeoastronomy documentation and recording.

The next event being planned is the 2011 Conference on Archaeoastronomy of the American Southwest to be held in New Mexico. The exact date and location is currently being developed.