Threatened Sites Grant Program

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) continues to administer the Threatened Sites Grant Program, offering funding for the emergency protection and documentation of archaeologically significant sites in danger of loss due to erosion, development, vandalism, or environmental degradation. Since its inception in 1985, the program has served as a critical line of defense for the preservation of Virginia’s archaeological record, supporting a broad range of documentation and excavation efforts throughout the state. For fiscal year 2026, DHR is funding five projects distributed across Virginia. These include the Mount Hermon Pottery site in Rockingham County, where a team will document a rare 19th-century pottery production site; an investigation of Site 44KW0017 on the Pamunkey Indian Reservation that holds significant pre- and post-contact cultural deposits; a maritime remote-sensing survey of the Pamunkey River near Bassetts Landing to identify Civil War-era wrecks and other submerged resources; the Patawomeke Chronology Project in Stafford County to produce radiocarbon dates for ancestral tribal sites under threat from sea-level rise; and digital preservation of above-ground features of the Marshall Tunnel Canal District in Botetourt County. The program funds a range of activities, including assessment, excavation, laboratory analysis, oral history collection, and digital documentation using techniques such as terrestrial laser scanning, photogrammetry, and drone-based LiDAR. When physical preservation of a site is not feasible, the program supports salvage documentation to recover and preserve knowledge before it is irretrievably lost. Eligible projects must pertain to sites that are of at least statewide archaeological significance and currently face imminent threat. Additionally, funding is limited to sites for which no other financial resources are available. Sites may be nominated by any individual or organization and are reviewed by DHR staff in collaboration with the Threatened Sites Committee, composed of professionals in the archaeological community. Applicants must register and submit proposals via the DHR WebGrants portal. This platform is used for both application submission and grants management. The program is active annually, and new awards are announced each fiscal cycle. For more information, prospective applicants may contact Elizabeth Moore, the State Archaeologist, by phone.

Clearly document significance and threat; partner with tribes or academic experts where possible.