Archaeology grants are nonrefundable donations made specifically for the purpose of archaeological research. Grants like these can come from both public and private sources, and they’re usually intended to help fund a specific project. Teaching grants, which may be used to fund a teaching position or departmental chair at a university, and facilities grants, which may be used to help build a building or lab in a variety of locations, are both common archaeology grants. Excavation grants help pay for the costs of excavating a specific archaeological site, while equipment grants help pay for needed tools.
Public institutions, such as colleges, and government departments or commissions, are common sources of archaeology grants. Individuals, foundations, and businesses may provide private grants. All of these organizations may offer grants for a variety of reasons. Budgets, staff details, and information on how the work will benefit the field of archaeology may be required as part of an application.
Archaeology grants are given out for a variety of reasons. Colleges and universities most commonly use teaching grants to help pay for professor or research assistant salaries. Universities may also use such funds to start new archaeology-related degree or community education programs. While higher education institutions receive the majority of teaching grants, museums and historic sites seeking to provide public education may also be eligible for funding.
Grants for facilities are typically used to construct, expand, or maintain facilities. At a college, university, or museum, this could be a classroom, lab, or exhibit space. Archaeological foundations or sites may also apply for these types of archaeological grants in order to expand their facilities or purchase new land.
Excavation grants are probably the most common type of archaeology grant. These funds can be used for a variety of purposes on the job site, including worker stipends and salaries, security, and temporary structures for storage, sorting, and meetings. The money could also be used to pay the site’s owner, buy permits, and house and feed the excavation crew. Shipping fees and supplies like cleaners and adhesives are included in incidental site excavation costs.
Equipment grants, for example, allow an archaeology group or department to purchase excavation or research tools. Acquisitions grants fund the purchase of new artifacts for study or exhibition. Students typically use educational grants for tuition, while doctoral candidates use them for research.