ACA Graduate Student Award

The Association of Consulting Archaeologists is pleased to announce the ACA Graduate Student Award. The ACA Graduate Student Award is a $500 award that can be applied towards tangible costs related to Thesis or Dissertation research. The goal of the award is to provide funding for graduate students in Alberta, and worthy candidates from elsewhere, to conduct research using data developed by Alberta consulting archaeologists. This award is targeted towards students, at the Masters or Doctoral level, enrolled in graduate studies in an archaeology, anthropology, or related department at an accredited Alberta post-secondary institution. Consideration will also be granted to graduate students in similarly accredited programs elsewhere who have worked on archaeological consulting projects within Alberta and who have a letter of reference from a qualified permit holder in Alberta. ​

For 2021, the ACA will be awarding two Graduate Student Awards (as the 2020 award was not dispersed). The deadline to submit applications for the 2021 award is May 14, 2021. Award recipients will be notified by May 31, 2021. Please see information post linked below for details on award criteria and how to apply. 

 2018 ACA Graduate Student Award Recipient

​The 2018 recipient of the ACA Graduate Student Award, Margaret Patton (University of Calgary) used the funding to contribution to completion of her research program ​"Geophysical Surveys, Spatial Analysis, and Campsite Organization at Late Prehistoric Sites on the Northwestern Plains".

Her research included magnetometry and ground penetrating radar studies at the Junction Site (DkPi-2), working in coordination with excavations carried out by Lifeways of Canada to assess the results of her geophysical survey program. 
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Future work includes completing lab analysis of the matrix samples and then spatial analysis to contribute to an understanding of site layout and activity areas.