Established in 2019 through annual gifts from Charles Steinmetz, these scholarships support the participation of U.S. military personnel or veterans in archaeological excavations. Steinmetz scholarships are not being offered in 2026.

Eligibility

Applicants must be U.S. active or reserve military or veterans. The successful applicants will be expected to join ASOR before funds are dispersed, but applicants do not need to be members to apply. Applicants are encouraged to use the Uniform Fieldwork Scholarships Application to apply for all of the named and unnamed Fieldwork Participation Scholarships. Some of the named grants are designated for particular excavations (e.g., Hazor or Tell el-Hesi), for particular groups (e.g., BIPOC and veterans), and for particular countries (e.g., Israel or Jordan). Please check the appropriate boxes on the Uniform Application so that you can be considered for as many different scholarships sources as possible. In order to be eligible, applicants are required to participate in an ASOR-affiliated excavation (see list).

Preference will be given to individuals that have not received support through the ASOR scholarship program or other funding sources for the summer of 2025. Additional preference will also be given to applicants who would not usually receive funding (for airfare, lodging or a stipend) from the excavation. Preference is also given to applicants who have not received ASOR funding for excavations in the past three years.

In order to be eligible, applicants are required to participate in an ASOR-affiliated excavation (see list). Applications must include the contact information for the director of the excavation project.

Upon completion of the field season, a report of 250-350 words and three appropriate photos (500 dpi resolution or higher) on site must be submitted to the ASOR office by September 1, 2026. Reports and photos should be sent via email with “ASOR Steinmetz Scholaship report” in the subject line. More information will be available after the recipients have been notified.

Scholarship recipients will be required to sign a waiver indicating that ASOR is not responsible for any injuries they might sustain during their time at the excavation in which they participate. They will also be required to sign a release of rights to ASOR for the inclusion of their report and photographs in one of ASOR’s publications. This award may only be used for allowable direct expenses. Indirect and/or overhead expenses are not permitted.

Disclaimer: If archaeological excavations are significantly disrupted or canceled in 2026, ASOR may, at its sole discretion, decide not to offer fieldwork scholarships. Fieldwork scholarships cannot be deferred; applicants may reapply either for fieldwork funding in 2027 or for non-fieldwork summer stipends if ASOR offers such stipends in 2026.