National Science Foundation Funding of Domestic Archaeology in the United States: Where the Money Ain't

National Science Foundation (NSF) funding for domestic archaeology in the United States is examined for the period 1958 through 1978. Funding levels are analyzed in terms of current- and constant-dollar expenditures, as well as funding intensity. It is concluded that NSF funding for domestic archaeological research has declined rapidly since the mid-1960s and that the funding for fiscal year 1978 represents the program's nadir (a mere 6% of the funding intensity for 1966 and about half the amount for 1958). It seems reasonable to suggest that NSF may soon cease to be a viable source of funds for scientific research in the area of domestic archaeology if recent trends continue.