Archaeology News and Announcements

from Brown University's Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World

Tag: funding

2024 Black History Month at the Institute | Resources for Black Students

Black History Month is a time to honor the contributions African Americans have made to the United States and the world at large, both in the past and present. This February at the Joukowsky Institute, we are highlighting resources created by and for African American scholars of archaeology and anthropology. This will be a three part series with each blog post focusing on different aspects of contemporary African American archaeology: Associations and Archives, Resources and Funding for Black Students, and Field School Opportunities. This week’s post will highlight resources and funding available for African American/Black students to help them achieve their academic and career goals, both in the field of archaeology and beyond.

Funding and Resources for African American/Black Students

Student Excellence in Archaeology Scholarships (SEAS) | The SEAS is sponsored by the Society for American Archaeology. It aims to support students of historically underrepresented backgrounds in archaeology. Two scholarships are awarded each year to two undergraduates for training or research in archaeology, with an award up to $1,000. They award up to $3,000 for graduate students to help pay for tuition, books, travel costs, supplies, and equipment.

BIPOC Scholarships for Fieldwork Participation | This grant is sponsored by the American Society for Overseas Research. They award six scholarships of $2,000 to African American or Indigenous students of color that are participating in an ASOR-affiliated archaeological summer project.

The Sportula Micro-grants for Classics Students | The Sportula is a mutual aid group dedicated to providing funding for working class and underrepresented scholars in the field of Classics. They provide $5-$300 micro grants as well as non-monetary support for those in need, no questions asked. Supplies and funds are limited, so please be mindful.

Black Trowel Collective Micro-grants | The Black Trowel Collective provies micro-grants for African American/Black students of archaeology. Similar to Sportula, they are a mutual aid group made up of underrepresented professionals in the field of archaeology. They provide up to $300 in funding; they are not currently accepting funding requests, but will in the future. Supplies and funds are limited, so please be mindful.

Agnes Jones Johnson Scholarship | Sponsored by the NAACP, this scholarship awards $2,000 to any Black or African American student under the age of 25 currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution. Financial need requirements and GPA requirements apply. Applicants must be members of the NAACP.

Frank M. Snowden Jr. Undergraduate Scholarship | This scholarship is sponsored by the Committee on Diversity in the Profession of the Society for Classical Studies. It provides up to $4,500 in funding for undergraduate students who are participating in in a classical summer program or field school within the Mediterranean. It is aimed at students of underrepresented ethnic and racial groups.

The resources highlighted in this list are not exhaustive, and we encourage you to seek out more opportunities that support African American and Black students in their academic pursuits. Please stay tuned for next week’s post: Field School Opportunities.

*Compiled and written by Christina Miles (`25) 

 

Society of Black Archaeologists: January Updates

The Society of Black Archaeologists (SBA) wishes you a happy new year! This January, the SBA highlights some of their members’ achievements, as well as announces their new SBA elected officials.

2024 Elected Officials

President-elect: Alicia Odewale

Secretary: Jordan Davis

Treasurer: Craig Stevens

Student Representative: Rebecca Davis

 

Milestones & Achievements 

  • Congratulations to the Back-to-Africa Heritage and Archaeology Project (BAHA) for receiving the Society for Historical Archaeology Mark E. Mack Community Engagement Awards for January 2024! The award honors research project teams who exhibit outstanding best practices in community collaboration, engagement, and outreach in their historical archaeology and heritage preservation work. The BAHA team is being acknowledged for their public archaeology and curation efforts at Providence Island and the National Museum of Liberia. Shoutout to the BAHA team for the great work!
Upcoming Events & Opportunities 
  • The Archaeological Society of Jamaica: “Public Archaeology and Heritage at White Marl” Virtual Webinar | Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at 6:00 PM local time – This engaging session will delve into the rich tapestry of Heritage and Archaeology at White Marl in Central Village, Saint Catherine.The focus will be on exploring the intricacies of this complex, organized pre-colonial site and shedding light on the potential risks it faces in the context of highway development. The discussion will extend to the profound concepts of memory and heritage, connecting decades of archaeological research to the contemporary life of the modern community surrounding the site. Join for an enlightening evening as we uncover the layers of history, weaving together the threads of the past with the challenges and opportunities of the present.
  • “Anthropology and the Black Experience” Dakar, Senegal | May 15-18, 2024 – The Association of Black Anthropologists (ABA), Society of Black Archaeologists (SBA), and the Black in BioAnth (BiBA) Collective are pleased to announce a call for papers for a conference entitled “Anthropology and the Black Experience.” The 21st century has witnessed significant shifts in the anthropological landscape, with diverse voices and perspectives emerging to challenge traditional narratives. This conference seeks to explore the unique contributions and experiences of Black scholars in anthropology, emphasizing the rich tapestry of knowledge, methodologies, and insights they bring to the discipline. We invite scholars, researchers, and students from all sub-disciplines and related fields to reflect on the historiography of anthropology in Africa and the African diaspora, the role and contributions of people of African descent in the field, and the latest research being done by and in communities of African descent.
  • SBA Conference Travel Award | The award offers support for non-US SBA members traveling to present research at scholarly conferences. SBA will provide a total award of up to $1000 USD. Award funding is intended for conference and travel-related expenses, including conference registration, travel (e.g., airfare, vehicle rentals), and room/board. Questions about the review criteria and the award can be directed to treasurer@societyofblackarchaeologists.com
  • Climate Change and Archaeology Survey | The Heritage-at-Risk Task Force of the Southeastern Archaeological Conference (SEAC) is conducting a short survey on the effects of climate change on the practice of archaeology and the resources we study. They invite all SBA members to contribute!
For more information on the SBA, please visit their webpage linked here.

Recordings at Risk Grant Applications Open!

 

The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) is now accepting applications from collecting organizations for the digital reformatting of audio and audiovisual materials for the Recordings at Risk grant program.

Generously funded by the Mellon Foundation Recordings at Risk focuses on digitally preserving “at-risk” recorded content of significant importance to researchers and the general public. CLIR will grant awards ranging between $10,000 and $50,000 for digital reformatting projects scheduled between September 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025.

The application deadline is Wednesday, April 17, 2024, with award announcements scheduled for August 2024. Prospective applicants can participate in an informal webinar on Wednesday, February 15th, 2024, at 2 PM EST, register here. For more information, visit the Apply for an Award page. To learn more about past funded projects visit the program’s Funded Projects page.

Last Call – ARCE AM 2024 Grant for Underrepresented Students

To increase opportunities and access to the ARCE Annual Meeting for students from typically underrepresented groups, ARCE will offer the 2024 ARCE Annual Meeting Grant for Underrepresented Students (ARCE Grant) to a maximum of five (5) eligible undergraduate or graduate students whose studies are related to (or who have an interest in studying) Nile Valley cultures through the disciplines of Egyptology, Nubiology, Africology, Art History, Archaeology, Anthropology, Classical, Coptic, Islamic, Middle East, and African Studies, or other related fields. Awardees will be paired with Ph.D. students or early career scholars who will act as mentors during the Annual Meeting.

Up to five grants will be awarded annually. The ARCE Grant will pay all fees related to (i) Annual Meeting registration; (ii) lodging costs and breakfast at the host hotel for each night of the Annual Meeting; and (iii) transportation costs (up to a maximum of $500) incurred in attending the Annual Meeting. Prior to the Annual Meeting, Awardees must consult with the US ARCE Office to arrange registration, lodging, and transportation. ARCE will purchase air or train tickets on behalf of, and in consultation with, awardees. Awardees will be responsible for costs in excess of $500.

Application Deadline: December 15, 2023 11:59 PM EST.

To learn more and apply, click this link.

ARCE’s New Archaeology Field Research Grant

Funded through the Antiquities Endowment Fund (AEF), ARCE is accepting applications for a new grant scheme opportunity: “The Archaeological Field Research Grant” which is only open to current Research Supporting Members (RSM) of ARCE. This program aims to provide funding to conduct empirical, archaeological research and/or support student archaeological field training in Egypt at sites that date from prehistory to 100 years old. While the dissemination of results through publications and other materials is the ultimate expectation of these awards, this program supports (for up to one year) field costs such as travel, accomodation, field staff, equipment, and salary for project directors and collaborating scholars. However, indirect costs such as general operating costs incurred within the project but not directly linked to the project tasks, are not allowable.

The ARCE particularly encourages applications from junior faculty, with preference given to individuals with a graduate degree and/or demonstrated experience. Preference will also be given to proposals with the commitment to involve students of marginalized communities within the funded field work.

ARCE encourages you to submit a draft proposal to aef@arce.org before December 20, 2023. Final applications are to be submitted before 12 midnight EST on February 15th, 2024, via a submittable platform located on the Archaeological Field Research Grant’s webpage on ARCE.ORG.

After submission of either the draft proposal or the final application, ARCE reserves the right to request supplementary information or pose clarifying questions. Requesting supplementary information or posing clarifying questions to one applicant does not obligate ARCE to do so with all applicants nor does it guarantee a grant award.

For more information on the grant guidelines and how to apply, click this link.

Updates from the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission

The Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission’s monthly bulletin is now available. The information below can be found on this bulletin; to sign up for a monthly e-newsletter and stay updated by the RH-PCH’s work, click this link.

Historic Preservation CAMP in Warwick

This October, dozens of Rhode Island Historic District Commission members and staff, as well as RIHPHC and Statewide Planning staff went to CAMP in Warwick. The Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program (CAMP) was presented by preservation planners Amber Stimpson and Chris Skelly on behalf of the National Association of Preservation Commissions (NAPC).

They met in Warwick’s Sawtooth Building—also known as the Apponaug Mill—for presentations on Preservation Planning, Alternative Materials, Secretary’s Standards and Local Guidelines, Public Outreach and Community Engagement, the Role of the Commissioner, and Violations and Enforcement.

Attendees were engaged and inspired—and they fulfilled their new 3-hour training requirement for members of municipal land use boards.

Prudent Stewardship

RIHPHC staff members Roberta Randall and Elizabeth Totten recently inspected the Sandy Point Lighthouse, which has been transferred from federal ownership to the Prudence Conservancy. This non-profit organization has managed the lighthouse in conjunction with the U.S. Coast Guard since 2001. The Conservancy plans to clean the lighthouse to remove biological growth and staining in anticipation of opening the building for tours led by the Prudence Island Historical & Preservation Society next summer.

The oldest extant lighthouse in Rhode Island, Sandy Point Lighthouse was constructed in 1823 in Newport Harbor and moved to Prudence Island in 1851. This two-story, tapered octagonal lighthouse is constructed of smoothly-faced granite blocks painted white and is capped by a rare “bird cage” lantern. The interior features a cut granite winder stair leading to the cast-iron balcony.

Three cheers for this historic lighthouse as it begins its third century!

Writer Grant and Fellowship Opportunities

There are many opportunities to secure funding for your preservation project:

More December updates can be found on their website.

Apply for the Antiquities Endowment Fund (AEF) Grant

Created with resources from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as allocated by the U.S. Congress, the American Research Center of Egypt’s Antiquities Endowment Fund (AEF) sustains an ongoing grants program to support the conservation, preservation and documentation of Egypt’s cultural heritage and the dissemination of knowledge about that heritage.

ARCE is offering a short-term grant (for up to one year) which is designed for highly focused professional projects who serve the cultural heritage needs of Egyptian antiquities that are more than 100 years old. Projects may include the actual preservation or protection of sites, buildings or objects; the participation of conservators or other suitable specialists in antiquities projects; the training of both conservators and students; or the production of publications and presentations that disseminate knowledge about Egypt’s cultural heritage.

AEF grants only support direct project costs, indirect costs are not allowable. The budget allows for highly specific expenses to be included. Applications should be denominated in U.S. Dollars; ARCE is not responsible for currency fluctuations. Priority will be given to those publication projects that further the AEF mission of excavation, documentation, and conservation of Egypt’s cultural heritage.

The application process for the short-term grant takes place annually. All applications must be prepared and submitted in English. We encourage you to send a draft proposal via email to aef@arce.org before December 20, 2023, to which ARCE’s Program staff will respond with suggesstions and advice.

Application deadline is 12 midnight EST on February 15th, 2024.

For more information on how to apply, click this link.

CLIR Awards $644,147 to Recordings at Risk Projects

August 1, 2023—In a significant effort to safeguard and celebrate our cultural heritage, the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) announces the allocation of $644,147 to support 17 pioneering projects under the Recordings at Risk program. Building upon the success of the 147 previously funded projects, which have already digitally preserved over 55,000 vulnerable audio and/or visual recordings, this tenth cohort of recipients marks a crucial milestone in cultural preservation.

The cultural significance of these endangered analog audiovisual materials cannot be overstated. The ravages of time, coupled with the scarcity of compatible playback equipment and looming and environmental hazards, threaten their very existence. The grant recipients will employ state-of-the-art technologies and partner with highly skilled digitization service providers to rescue these invaluable records from the brink of extinction.

Among the diverse array of recordings to be digitized, the projects will illuminate the rich tapestry of twentieth-century Native life in America, showcase the evolution of music history, capture the impact of labor and social justice activism, provide unique insights into the wonders of animal life, preserve the multifaceted perspectives and creativity of people from the heart of Appalachia, and illuminate the vibrant lights of Las Vegas.

Through the support of the Mellon Foundation and administered by CLIR, the Recordings at Risk program continues to empower diverse organizations in their mission to preserve rare and unique audio and/or visual recordings of high scholarly value. Since its inception in 2017, the program has awarded grants of between $10,000 and $50,000 to diverse organizations, providing vital resources necessary to save cultural memory that would otherwise be lost to time.

As we race against time to salvage these delicate and fading pieces of our history, each successfully digitized recording becomes a vital testament to the past. This extraordinary endeavor underscores CLIR’s unwavering commitment to cultural preservation, recognizing the urgent need to protect our collective heritage and ensure that the voices and experiences of diverse communities resonate across generations.

Visit the program’s Funded Projects page for more information about individual projects and the independent review panel, which plays a pivotal role in shaping the program’s funding recommendations. CLIR extends its gratitude to all applicants to and reviewers for their unwavering dedication and passion, especially during times of ongoing social duress.

CLIR is in the process of finalizing the next call for proposals for Recordings at Risk. Details on future cycles will be posted to the program’s landing page in the next several months. Those interested are encouraged to sign up for CLIR’s Grants & Programs Newsletter for updates.

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