^{State Historical Fund | Our Grant Types | Archaeological Assessment}

Archaeological Assessment Grants fund initial archaeological data collection and analysis. These projects lay the foundation for future work, site preservation, and/or interpretation.

Types of Archaeological Assessments

• Site-specific assessments develop baseline documentation for known archaeological sites and/or collections.
• Small survey assessments assess areas with known archaeological potential for archaeological resources.
• Research assessments test archaeological research methodologies.

Requirements

Request Amount: Up to $15,000.

Cash Match: 10% for nonprofit/govt.owner, 25% for private owner

BIPOC Projects* Cash Match: 0% for nonprofit/ government owner, 10% for private owner

Designation: Historic designation is not required. Sites and areas are eligible for funding if they exhibit a high potential for research or interpretation.

Scope: Limited to initial project planning. See the competitive grant program for phased projects. Archaeological documentation must meet specifications set by the State Historic Preservation Office for site forms, reports, and GIS shapefiles.

Budget: Line items must denote all the costs of the project such as contractual services or travel costs. Budgets must contain a calculation, or reference a proposal document that contains a calculation, that shows how the budget amount has been derived.

Permits: All awarded archaeology applications will be contingent on receipt by the State Historical Fund of an approved archaeological permit prior to the execution of the grant award contract. For state lands, including city, county, and any other political subdivision of the state, a permit must be issued by the Office of the State Archaeologist, and the permit must be valid during the proposed project dates. For federal lands, a permit must be issued by the federal land managing agency and must be valid after the grant award date. Please do not apply for a permit until the grant is awarded. If a Principal Investigator is unable to obtain the required permit within 9 months of award, the grant may be rescinded. 

Ineligible Expenses:

• Contingency
• Work required by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act
• Direct preservation, mitigation, and/or interpretation activities
• Excavation

Application Deadlines: Year-round.

Award Announcement: Applicants are notified within 30-45 days of submitting a complete application. If additional material or information is needed from the applicant, this may be longer. If awarded, the contracting process can take up to a month before the project can begin. If funding is no longer available within the current fiscal year, an approved application will be put in a queue for funding at the beginning of the next fiscal year.

*Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Projects: A BIPOC project significantly benefits and involves one or more BIPOC communities.

Forms and Samples

Before You Apply

• Read our Guidebook for all program requirements. The Guidebook was last updated in February 2024.
• Read the "How to Apply: Archaeological Assessment" document on how to complete the application form.

Ready to Apply?

Visit our Applicant Portal to create an applicant account and complete an application.

Questions?

Contact our Engagement Staff or email us at hc_shf@state.co.us.