Site Preservation Grant

The Site Preservation Grant, offered by the Archaeological Institute of America, aims to support projects that preserve archaeological heritage for future generations. With a maximum award of $15,000, the grant focuses on enhancing preservation efforts and promoting public awareness of threatened sites. Projects should include education and outreach components and demonstrate long-term maintenance plans. The AIA encourages diverse applicants and prioritizes ethical practices in archaeology, ensuring equal opportunity for all.

Purpose
The Site Preservation Grant is intended to fund projects that uphold the AIA’s mission to preserve and protect the world’s archaeological heritage for future generations. The goal of the grant, which carries a maximum award of $15,000, is to enhance global preservation efforts and promote awareness of the need to protect threatened archaeological sites. The AIA seeks to support projects that not only directly preserve archaeological sites, but those that also include public outreach and education components that create a positive impact on the local community, students, and the discipline of archaeology as a whole.
Criteria
There is no set number of criteria that must be fulfilled. However, the greater of criteria fulfilled, the stronger the application.
The application includes education and outreach – local, regional national, international.The project includes activities to ensure long-term site maintenance.The archaeologists, conservators, and other professionals have suitable credentials (Ph.D. for archaeologists and MS/MA for conservators in the appropriate areas and/or publication of previous fieldwork and commitment to site conservation and documentation).The project has innovative components.The project develops a tool/methodology that may be useful for other sites/projects.The project demonstrates “best practices” in some aspect of site preservation.The project demonstrates a high level of involvement of local authorities and personnel.The site has a maintenance plan in place.The site has a master/management plan in place.

Eligibility

Applications eligible for consideration for a Site Preservation Grant should fit one or more of these categoriesPlanning for conservation: involves documentation including photography and digital applications, assessment of significance and condition, and drawing up a conservation plan in coordination with the local authoritiesConservation interventions: physical hands-on treatments, materials and laborPreventive measures: reburial, shelters, fences, walkways, water management (drainage, flood prevention)Monitoring and maintenance of sitesTraining of personnel in conservation and site managementPublic outreach and educationThe AIA welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and is committed to equal opportunity for all. Under no circumstances will the AIA discriminate against qualified individuals on the basis of race, color, religious creed, retaliation, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, disability, mental illness, genetics, marital status, age, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited under applicable law.As part of the Archaeological Institute of America’s ongoing commitment to fieldwork and families, reasonable line items for the care of dependent and elderly family members are allowable expenses for AIA grants, fellowships, and scholarships.

Ineligibility

AIA does not allow for Site Preservation Grant funds to be allocated to indirect or overhead costs.The AIA does not fund: archaeological surveys; archaeological excavation (or the supplies to accomplish this); field schools; salaries; excessive administrative expenses or travels costs; the development of management plans. Current officers and members of the Governing Board, staff, members of the Fellowships Committee and members of their immediate families are prohibited from applying for or receiving fellowships, grants, and other financial awards that may be offered by the Archaeological Institute of America.