The aim of the Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation at the University of Sydney (NEAF) is to facilitate research in the archaeology of the Near East, Egypt and Cyprus, and to bring the world of Near Eastern archaeology to the general public.

    The 2007 excavation team at the site of Pella in Jordan: a NEAF sponsored volunteer program.

The Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation allows people who would have little or no contact with this fascinating study of their past, other than through the written word, to achieve not only first hand experience of excavation and study, but also to further the careers and the research of the graduate students who are so often their teachers and friends.

NEAF's first aim is achieved by giving grants to postgraduate research students working in those fields that are the major concern of the Foundation. The Catherine Southwell-Keely Travel Grant of $3500 is given annually. Grants-in-Aid of varying amounts are awarded for smaller research projects, ranging from overseas travel, archaeometric sample preparation, thesis preparation costs, photography and minor equipment purchases. These grants are available to enrolled postgraduate students of Australian and New Zealand universities. Their aim is to help graduate students establish themseves in their chosen field of research, and increasingly, to supplement scarce research expense funding. The grants are advertised in September each year. 

The second aim of the Foundation, to make Near Eastern Archaeology more accessible to the general public, is achieved in a variety of ways. During the year, the Foundation offers several lectures on Near Eastern, Cypriot and Egyptian Archaeology to its members as well as collaborating with the Centre for Continuing Education to give more detailed lecture courses.

The Foundation conducts overseas tours with experienced archaeologists as tour leaders: these tours concentrate on a particular theme in archaeology and are usually preceded by a lecture series. As opportunities arise, the Foundation endeavours to arrange private viewings of touring archaeological exhibitions. In 1992 NEAF introduced a Volunteer system that enables lay people to participate in an overseas archaeological excavation and by their financial and physical contribution to enable excavation and research to take place.

Information on the Foundation's activities is published in the NEAF Bulletin, which is printed several times a year. As well as this information, a variety of articles of general interest to the members are included. These may be about recent excavations, particularly those involving Sydney University, other new discoveries and book reviews as well as reports from the recipients of NEAF grants. 

Further, the Senate has appointed to Foundation members the use of the Fisher Library, sporting and University club facilities, subject to normal charges.

Why not join NEAF today and join a group of like-minded people fascinated by all aspects of archaeology?