The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) supports Italian archaeological, anthropological, and ethnological missions abroad, covering a chronological range from prehistory to the medieval era and spanning geographically from the Greco-Roman world to the Near, Middle, and Far East, Africa, and Latin America.
Support for these missions is provided through an annual call for applications managed by Office VI of Directorate General for Public and Cultural Diplomacy (DGDP).
Requests for support can be submitted by entities with legal personality, both public and private. These requests are submitted by mission directors or individuals delegated by them to access the Archaeology portal. Each director can submit a maximum of three requests.
The two types of support offered by MAECI are:
- Funding (a contribution of no more than 70% of the total expenses incurred).
- Institutional recognition (R.I.).
In 2023, 279 missions were supported in 71 countries promoted by 42 public institutions and 24 private research centers, covering all disciplinary areas, from paleoanthropology to prehistory, from palace civilizations to classical, medieval, Byzantine, and Islamic archaeology.
Research, Training, and Knowledge Transfer
In addition to contributing to the knowledge and preservation of the historical and cultural heritage of partner countries, these missions, in collaboration with various actors from local communities, have an impact on the socioeconomic fabric of the areas where they operate. Through fieldwork, numerous training opportunities, and knowledge transfer, the countries hosting our missions benefit from highly qualified personnel and Italian expertise in the use of new technologies and cutting-edge techniques for the restoration and protection of heritage.
Preservation and Safeguarding of Cultural and Environmental Heritage
Despite ongoing conflicts and situations of instability, Italy has continued to provide support to countries affected by these issues. Often, when unable to work on-site, our researchers have continued their work in documenting, cataloging, archiving, studying, and disseminating the results achieved, also contributing to the fight against the illegal trafficking of archaeological artifacts.
Since 2019, the so-called “green clause” has been included in the call, aiming to encourage the offsetting of carbon emissions through credits obtained from afforestation and reforestation activities. Many missions have long been involved in various initiatives to make excavation and research activities more sustainable, protect the environment, and raise awareness among local communities about environmental conservation.
For more information, please visit the following webpage: https://www.esteri.it/en/diplomazia-culturale-e-diplomazia-scientifica/cultura/archeologiapatrimonioculturale/
ARCHAEOLOGICAL COOPERATION BETWEEN ITALY AND THAILAND
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) supports the ‘LOPBURI REGIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT’ (LORAP) project in Thailand carried out by the Italian Institute for the Middle and Far East (ISMEO).
The ISMEO archaeological mission, currently under the coordination of Professors Fiorella Rispoli and Roberto Ciarla, has been active since 1988 and is currently the international mission acting continuously on Thai territory for the longest time. The mission investigates the role played by the prehistoric and protohistoric communities of the Pasak-Lopburi River Valley in the cultural, social and economic interrelations between the communities of mainland Southeast Asia, southern China and the Indian Subcontinent between the 3rd millennium BC. and the 1st millennium AD. The mission envisages training of local specialists on archaeological restoration and museum display of excavation finds.