The Ministry of Foreign Affairs supports Italian archaeological, anthropological and ethnological missions abroad, which extend chronologically from prehistoric times to medieval times and geographically from the Greco-Roman world to the Near, Middle and Far East, Africa and Latin America.
A commitment in favour of intercultural dialogue and development policies which takes the form of a scientific and study activity of great importance, accompanied by the training of local operators and the transfer of technologies in some sectors, such as restoration and protection of cultural heritage, in which Italian excellence is recognized internationally.
Traditionally, the area with the greatest number of Italian missions is the Mediterranean and the Middle East; in fact, it is in this area, and more precisely in Greece, that the Italian School of Archaeology in Athens was founded in 1909 with the aim of conducting archaeological research in Greece and in the areas of the Hellenic civilization, as well as to train scholars in various historical and archaeological sectors. The School is the point of reference in Greece for Italian archaeological missions operating there.
Alongside traditional excavation missions, other projects have also been developed over the years to provide training for experts on site, to transfer knowledge and to teach local operators about our most advanced techniques to restore and protect cultural heritage.
These missions enhance the cultural heritage of the hosting countries and strengthen the social-economic development of the sites in which they operate, promoting greater historical awareness at local level and supporting political peace-making efforts in crisis areas.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation supports the missions through the granting of contributions through the publication of an annual call for applications. The call regulates the submission of applications, the selection of applicants and the reporting of expenses incurred.
For 2023, 279 missions were supported through the provision of grants (209) or institutional recognition.
The procedure for requesting grants for this activity has been updated in 2024 and is described in the attached call below.
Requests and reports are submitted via the Archeology website
For information: archeologia@esteri.it
Useful links:
- Archeology website
- Missions supported in 2024
- Missions supported in 2023
- Missions supported in 2022
- 2024 call for applications for grants for Italian archaeological, anthropological, ethnological missions abroad
- 2023 call for applications for grants for Italian archaeological, anthropological, ethnological mission abroad
- Italian archaeological, anthropological and ethnological missions abroad
- Italian School of Archaeology in Athens