[Archaeological Institute of America](https://www.archaeological.org)

February 1, 2026

Honorary award; no direct monetary prize specified.

Recognizes outstanding non-fiction books that engage the public with the excitement and significance of archaeology.

--- ## Description The Felicia A. Holton Book Award is presented annually to a writer or writers whose major non-fiction work successfully communicates the excitement and importance of archaeology to a broad, adult lay audience. The award, jointly sponsored by the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) and the Center for American Archeology, honors books that are well-researched, accessible, and responsible in their portrayal of archaeological discovery. Eligible works must be written in English, published within the last three calendar years (excluding the year of the award), and available in the United States and Canada. In some cases, the award may also recognize lifetime achievement in popular archaeological writing. --- ## Due Dates - Nomination deadline: February 1, 2026 The committee reviews nominations by October, with winners notified in November and celebrated at the AIA Awards Ceremony in January. --- ## Funding Amount - This is an honorary award; no direct monetary prize is specified. - Recognition includes announcement at the AIA Awards Ceremony and publication on the AIA website. --- ## Eligibility - The award is open to writers of major non-fiction works focused on archaeology intended for a general adult audience. - The book must: - Be written in English. - Be published and available in the United States and Canada. - Have a publication date within three calendar years prior to the award year (for the 2026 award, books published in 2023, 2024, or 2025). - Books written by current members of the AIA Governing Board, the CAA, or the award committee are not eligible. - Nominated books may only be submitted once, unless specifically requested for resubmission by the committee. - Occasionally, the award may be given for lifetime achievement in non-fiction archaeological writing. --- ## Application Process - Nominations may be made by authors, publishers, or AIA members through the online [Nomination Form](https://www.archaeological.org/programs/professionals/grants-awards/applications/holton-book-award/). - The nomination should address how the book fulfills the award guidelines. - Individual AIA members nominating a book do not need to submit review copies; the AIA office will contact the publisher for these. - After nomination, the committee reviews submissions and makes a decision by October. The decision is then approved by the AIA Governing Board. All nominators are notified of the outcome in November. --- ## Additional Information - The award celebrates books that not only focus on archaeology but may also engage with related literary and historical topics, provided archaeology remains central. - The award is given at the discretion of the committee and may not be presented every year. - Past recipients and honorable mentions can be viewed on the [Holton Book Award page](https://www.archaeological.org/grant/holton-book-award/). --- ## External Links - [Holton Book Award Program Page](https://www.archaeological.org/grant/holton-book-award/) - [Nomination Form](https://www.archaeological.org/programs/professionals/grants-awards/applications/holton-book-award/) - [AIA Grants & Awards Overview](https://www.archaeological.org/programs/professionals/grants-awards/) --- ## Contact Information | Type | Details | |---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | General Inquiries | [awards@archaeological.org](mailto:awards@archaeological.org) | | Funder Contact Page | [https://www.archaeological.org/contact/](https://www.archaeological.org/contact/) | | Phone | 857-305-9350 | | Address | 2000 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 415, Auburndale, MA 02466 USA |

Felicia A. Holton Book Award

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