[U.S. National Science Foundation](https://www.nsf.gov)

July 1, 2026 | December 1, 2026

Approx. $200,000–$350,000 per award (typical); total program funding ~$6M; 2–3 year duration common.

Supports anthropologically relevant archaeological research to advance understanding of past human behaviors, with no restrictions on geographic region, time period, or theoretical orientation.

--- ## Description This program funds senior-level archaeological research that is anthropologically relevant and contributes to understanding past human behaviors. The program welcomes innovative projects employing diverse theoretical approaches, methods, and geographic or temporal foci. Most proposals request support for fieldwork or analysis of archaeological materials, but the program is open to a wide range of research activities. There are no programmatic priorities regarding region, time period, or theoretical orientation, and proposals are evaluated on their potential to advance anthropological knowledge. --- ## Due Dates - July 1, 2026: Full proposal target date - December 1, 2026: Full proposal target date These are annual deadlines for the Archaeology Program Senior Research Awards. --- ## Funding Amount - **Estimated total program funding:** ~$6,000,000 annually - **Expected number of awards:** 20–30 per year - **Typical award size:** $200,000–$350,000 (including indirect costs) - **Typical award duration:** 2–3 years - **No cost sharing required** - **No explicit maximum or minimum award; budgets should be justified by research scope** --- ## Eligibility - **Who may apply:** Researchers with a Ph.D. or equivalent education/experience, capable of independent basic research. - **PI/Co-PI requirements:** Must be qualified researchers (not students). - **Student involvement:** Undergraduate and graduate students may participate in the research, but not as PI, co-PI, or other senior/key personnel. - **Eligible institutions:** As defined in the [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg); unaffiliated individuals are not eligible. - **No limits** on the number of proposals per organization or per PI/co-PI. --- ## Application Process - **Submission platforms:** [Research.gov](https://www.research.gov/) or [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/) - **Proposal type:** Full proposals only (no letters of intent or preliminary proposals required) - **Follow NSF PAPPG guidelines** for proposal preparation and submission - **Collaborative proposals:** May be submitted as a single proposal with subawards or as separate proposals from multiple organizations (via Research.gov) - **Data management plan:** Required; data to be shared within two years of final collection, barring ethical limitations - **Broader impacts:** Proposals must address broader impacts and ethical considerations - **Permits and permissions:** PIs are responsible for securing necessary research permits and approvals --- ## Additional Information - **Other funding opportunities:** The program also supports Archaeometry proposals, Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants, Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) supplements, CAREER awards, and more. See the [program solicitation](http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf23566) for details. - **Review criteria:** Proposals are evaluated based on NSF’s standard merit review criteria: intellectual merit and broader impacts. - **Reporting:** Annual and final project reports required, with updates on broader impacts and data sharing. --- ## External Links - [NSF Program Page](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/arch-sr-archaeology-program-senior-research-awards/nsf23-566/solicitation) - [Full Program Solicitation (NSF 23-566)](http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf23566) - [Apply via Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/358689) - [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg) - [Recent NSF Archaeology Awards](https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/advancedSearchResult?ProgEleCode=1391%2C1393&BooleanElement=Any&BooleanRef=Any&ActiveAwards=true#results) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Role/Area | Email | Phone | |------------------------|--------------------|------------------------------|---------------| | John E. Yellen | Program Director | jyellen@nsf.gov | 703-292-8759 | | Don Rimon | Business Analyst | drimon@nsf.gov | 703-292-2960 | | NSF Grants.gov Support | Technical Support | grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov | 1-800-518-4726| | NSF Information Center | General Inquiries | info@nsf.gov | 1-703-292-5111| For technical questions related to Research.gov: rgov@nsf.gov ---

Archaeology Program Senior Research Awards

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