Archaeometry

The Archaeometry (AMTRY) program, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) within the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences and the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, supports the development of advanced archaeometric techniques and services crucial for the archaeological sciences. It is one of several initiatives within the NSF’s broader Anthropology Program, which also includes competitions in Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, and Cultural Anthropology. The Archaeometry program specifically funds research that strengthens methodological capabilities in archaeology and sustains laboratory services essential to the field. The primary objective of the AMTRY program is to fund projects that either advance the development of archaeometric techniques or support laboratories that provide archaeometric services. Research in the first category may include innovations in detecting organic residues on ceramics or creating portable analytic instruments for field use. The second category may fund laboratories offering critical services such as radiocarbon dating, trace element or isotopic analysis, dendrochronology, or data archiving. Projects aimed at applying standard techniques to solve specific archaeological questions are directed to submit under the Archaeology Senior Research Awards program instead. Eligible applicants for this program must be researchers with a Ph.D. or equivalent who are qualified to conduct independent research. Undergraduate and graduate students can participate in research projects but may not serve as PI, co-PI, or senior personnel. Applicants must be affiliated with an eligible organization as outlined in the NSF’s Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Unaffiliated individuals are not eligible. Additionally, the AMTRY program encourages interdisciplinary and co-reviewed proposals that align with other NSF programs such as Cultural Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, and potentially geological and biological sciences. Applications are submitted through either Research.gov or Grants.gov, in accordance with the requirements specified in the current version of the PAPPG. Proposals must include standard components such as a project summary, description, data management plan, and budget justification. Special attention must be paid to ethical considerations, especially concerning data sharing, environmental impact, and involvement with descendant communities or underrepresented groups. The program mandates that data generated through funded projects be made publicly accessible, barring ethical limitations, within two years of final data collection. The Archaeometry program follows NSF’s standard merit review procedures, utilizing both ad hoc and panel reviews comprising experts in archaeological and archaeometric disciplines. Evaluation is based on intellectual merit and broader impacts, including the potential of the research to contribute to the public good, advance theory, foster STEM participation, or enhance societal well-being. Awards may be standard or continuing grants, depending on the project scope, and the estimated funding available annually for the program is between $600,000 and $700,000, with approximately four awards issued each cycle. The next application deadline is December 1, 2026, and this date recurs annually. Notifications of awards are communicated following NSF’s standard process, typically within six months of the proposal deadline. The program is not currently accepting applications but is expected to reopen per its annual cycle. For queries or proposal suitability checks, applicants are encouraged to submit a one-page project summary to Program Director John E. Yellen ([email protected]) or Business Operations Analyst Don Rimon ([email protected]).

Proposals must summarize resubmission changes and respond to reviewer feedback; integrate ethical considerations and broader impacts.