• The furtherance of archaeological knowledge in the context of the finite nature of the archaeological resource
  • Standalone questions into which research excavation might provide an original/innovative contribution to archaeological knowledge.
  • This scheme is open to archaeological researchers/archaeologists, including PhD students, for work in Ireland (not including Northern Ireland). It is not open to undergraduate or other postgraduate students.
  • The Committee does not normally consider projects where the applicant will not be the excavation licence holder (unless there are exceptional circumstances which will be examined on a case-by-case basis).
  • Research excavation costs including excavation staff*, excavation and post-excavation running costs, specialists’ fees and services, travel and subsistence expenses, specialist consumables, and scientific analyses.
  • Monies may be made available for continuing excavation projects but no more than three seasons of excavation will be funded, unless exceptional circumstances are demonstrated. Further additional post-excavation work may be funded, where exceptional circumstances are demonstrated.
  • In cases of continuing projects each subsequent application should consider a specific research question or questions, which should be capable of being addressed in that season (this is in case no further funding is forthcoming for further seasons).

*Salary costs of grant recipients and research team members are considered an eligible cost if, in order to participate in the project they must have their time ‘bought out’, or they must take time out from their usual employment, or would not be financially supported do this work without the grant funding and are not simultaneously in receipt of another income. As the Academy can only reimburse costs which are supported by evidence of payment, any request to reimburse salary costs must be supported by evidence that the salary has been paid (in the form of payslips, paid invoices etc.) from the employing body.

Applicants must list any current sources of research funding and justify why additional funds are sought from the RIA.

  • Applications for the funding of developer-led or commercial excavations.
  • Applications for projects directly connected to undergraduate or Masters-level studies in a third level institution.
  • The grant does not fund institutional overheads, and the grant cannot be used to cover any element that should be properly ascribed to institutional overheads (e.g. computer hardware including laptops, electronic notebooks, digital cameras, etc.; lab / bench fees, books and other permanent resources).
  • Applications from any applicant with one or more excavation reports outstanding to the Licensing Authority unless they have agreed a submission date for outstanding licences and have an official Compliance Letter from NMS agreeing to this.
  • Applications from any applicant who has previously been funded by the Academy for projects which have not been completed to the standard required by the grant and/or licence conditions.
  • Applicants are reminded that research excavations offer an opportunity for students of archaeology to gain practical experience. Applicants should note however that activities peripheral to the research excavation, e.g. offsite training, fieldtrips etc., are ineligible.
  • The purchase of items of equipment (e.g. cameras or survey equipment) that researchers would normally be expected to have are ineligible.