The U.S. National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering in all 50 states and U.S. territories. NSF was established in 1950 by Congress to promote the progress of science, advance the national health, prosperity and welfare, and secure the national defense.
The Archaeology Program aims to support anthropologically relevant archaeological research without setting priorities on geographic regions, time periods, or theoretical orientations. The program seeks proposals that convincingly argue their significance and potential to contribute to anthropological knowledge. It encourages innovative research by not defining specific categories but often funds field research and/or analysis of archaeological material. The program also backs projects developing analytic techniques with potential archaeological value.