Archaeology Program Senior Research Awards
NSF supports anthropologically relevant archaeological research by qualified Ph.D.-level researchers to advance understanding of past human behavior, typically through fieldwork or analysis of archaeological materials.
⚑ PI/co-PI must have Ph.D. or equivalent education/experience to do independent basic research · Program is explicitly archaeology-focused and requires anthropological significance · Students may be included as participants but not as PI/co-PI or senior/key personnel
This is an anthropology/archaeology basic-research program about past human behaviors and archaeological materials, which is far outside IPPRA’s usual survey, risk, weather, energy, and policy-evaluation lines. There is no plausible PI fit on this roster.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-07-18
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| IPPRA | 65 good | outside portfolio topics; social/behavioral work is central; funds basic research; capped at 65 (limited social-science role) |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 55 good | technical depth: minor; funds basic research |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 5 none | no commercialization signal |
Description
The Archaeology Program supports anthropologically relevant archaeological research to increase understanding of past behaviors. This means that the value of the proposed research can be justified within an anthropological context. It is the responsibility of the investigator to explain convincingly why the focus of their research is significant and has the potential to contribute to anthropological knowledge. The program sets no priorities by either geographic region or time period. It also has no priorities in regard to theoretical orientation or question. While the program, in order to encourage innovative research, neither limits nor defines specific categories of research, most proposals either request funds for field research or the analysis of archaeological material through multiple approaches.
Eligibility
*Who May Serve as PI:
PIs and co-PIs must be researchers who have a Ph.D. or equivalent education and experience, sufficient to allow them to carry out independent basic research. PIs of senior research proposals are encouraged to include undergraduate and graduate students in their research projects, but not as PI/co-PI or other senior/key personnel.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: U.S. National Science Foundation <grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · National Science Foundation conventions SEE AN NSF EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — National Science Foundation's document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.