• A letter verifying the applicant’s competency to undertake the research from one named referee who is independent of the project. The exception is where an application is made by a PhD student, in which case that reference must be from their supervisor.
  • Where relevant, a copy of the Ordnance Survey map with the site or sites marked.
  • Where relevant, a detailed site plan with the site or sites marked.
  • Detailed costings of proposed work (using template form provided).
  • Where relevant, a copy of a detailed quotation received from proposed specialist(s).
  • Applicants are required to inform the RIA of any potential conflicts of interests. In this regard applicants proposing to employ family members during the course of a funded excavation are required to disclose this to the RIA in advance of the drawdown of funds.
  • Where relevant, correspondence from the NMI stating that the applicant has discussed the application and that there is permission in principle for the proposed work based on the project rationale. If a proposal will require licenses to alter and/or export, it is advisable that those discussions should include the methodology detail.
  • Where relevant, correspondence from the NMS stating that the applicant has discussed the application and that there is permission in principle for the proposed work based on the project rationale. If a proposal will require licences and/or consents, it is advisable that those discussions should include the methodology detail.

An application will be deemed ineligible if it does not include all required supporting documentation and confirmations listed above.

Online Application Form and Appended Information

Applicants must complete the online application form with the appended information as indicated below.  Failure to do so correctly may disqualify the applicant from consideration for funding.

  1. Title of Proposed Project
  2. Type of Application
  3. Previously funded projects only – please tick box if you are still in possession of objects/archives from previously funded RIA projects
  4. Please provide a brief abstract (for publicising funded projects etc.)
  1. Name
  2. Address
  3. Phone
  4. Email

Site details including:

 a-d) Site name and location

e) Name and addresses of landowner(s)

f) Evidence in writing of permission in principle for the excavation from landowner, or from relevant NMS staff

g) Name of the senior supervisor for the project, and their qualifications

h) Location map –  Upload a copy of the relevant section of the Ordnance Survey map (1:10560 or larger as appropriate) with the site or sites marked

i) Plan of site with excavation area marked: Upload a detailed site plan with scale (not less than 1:500). The area(s) to be excavated should be clearly indicated. If the proposal is to excavate several sites not physically connected, nor arguably part of a single complex, applicants are to supply a general map and a separate copy of the plan of each site to be excavated in the current season. In the case of separate sites, applicants are to clearly explain the connection of the sites within the overview section (6.1) of the application form if such a connection exists. If funds are limited, the Grants subcommittee may not consider multi-site projects, though trial excavation may be approved where a coherent strategy is presented. In cases of multi-season projects, previous seasons’ areas of excavation should also be clearly marked.

j) Duration of work carried out to date at site

k) Expected further duration of work at site (including season applied for):

l) Brief description of the site (Max 250 words)

m) List of associated published references

n) Central research questions (Max 500 words) The Grants subcommittee will wish to see that the applicant is aware of the relevance of their proposal to the challenges of Irish archaeology and that this proposal is aimed primarily towards addressing such challenges

o) Estimated contribution to archaeological knowledge (Max 500 words)

Ability of applicant to carry out the proposed research, demonstrated through a track record of relevant competencies (weighting 30%, maximum 1,500 words, plus referee letter)

a) Are you presently employed?

b) Have you previously directed an archaeological excavation?

c) Please outline when you became eligible to hold an excavation license (if applicable).

d) Please outline details of qualifications, employment or experience which demonstrate your ability to carry out the proposed research (max 1000 words).

e) Please give names and addresses of two independent referees who have agreed to offer a guarantee for the conduct of the excavation and its publication. A letter of verification from one named referee confirming the applicant’s ability and suitability to undertake the research. The exception is where an application is made by a PhD student, in which case that reference must be from their supervisor.

f) Please outline publication details of the last two excavations you directed, or geophysical surveys carried out (if applicable).

g) List any other unpublished excavations with reasons for non-publication. Please note that the Grants subcommittee is obliged to disqualify an applicant with one or more excavation reports outstanding to the Licensing Authority. “Publication” in this instance includes the submission of a final excavation report to The National Monuments Section (DCHG).

h) You are requested to confirm that you comply with this requirement and are not ineligible. You are also requested to indicate your consent to the Academy seeking verification of this from the National Monuments Service.

i) You are required to consent to the Academy liaising with the National Monuments Service to verify your status in terms of submission of reports deriving from statutory consent/licence.

j) If you have not previously directed excavations, list the last four excavations you have participated in, indicating duration of participation and position(s) of responsibility held. Also indicate when you became eligible to hold an excavation licence.

Describe how the project will be achieved, to best practice. The answer should include but not be limited to the following: the investigative and research methods; a detailed achievable timeframe (ideally in Gantt chart or similar format); the facilities available to the project; the names and qualifications of key members of the project team, the research partners and/or specialists involved and what they will be contributing; the aspects of the project that are State of the Art in particular the use of cutting edge developments in archaeology, including new scientific techniques (max 1,000 words).

b) Please upload any images (jpg, PDF format etc) or documents supporting this answer, including programme, CVs for key staff, confirmation of proposed contribution from research partners/specialists/conservator, confirmation of facilities provided by a host organisation.

c) Outline the expected outputs from the proposed season of work (max 500 words).

A strategic goal of the RIA is to ‘represent Ireland by engaging and leading in activities that strengthen international recognition of the Academy’s scholarship’. The Grants subcommittee will wish to see an ambitious plan for dissemination, appropriate to the scale of the research project. As this scheme is publicly funded, please ensure that your plans include making the results of proposed research publicly available.  For large publication projects we encourage open access publication.

Estimated Expenses: Detailed breakdown of estimated expenses

  1. Please outline the cost of the work carried out to date
  2. Please outline the expected completion costs (including season applied for):
  3. Please outline the expected completion costs (including season applied for):
  4. Estimated costs requested for season of current application

Where specialist expertise is anticipated as part of your project please ensure that a detailed quotation from the intended specialist or specialists are uploaded.

While general estimated excavation and post-excavation costs should be given on the application form, a full and detailed breakdown of estimated expenses must be included using the template provided, indicating the likely duration of the excavation and post excavation, and the number of participants as follows:

 Excavation
Staff costs € per week Number of weeks Subtotal
e.g. Site supervisor, Site Assistants, Surveyor, Specialists on site visits/consultation €00 X €XX
Other running costs Detail of each expense Subtotal
e.g. Welfare Unit hire, diesel, accommodation, insurance, hire of equipment, consumables €
Excavation Total €
Post-Excavation
Staff costs € per week Number of weeks Subtotal
e.g. Supervisor, Surveyor, Illustrator €00 X €XX
Other running costs Detail of each expense Subtotal
e.g. Insurance, office, consumables €
Analysis Detail of each expense Subtotal
e.g. Specialist analysis, Dating
Post-Excavation Total €
Excavation & Post-Excavation Total €