The European Association of Archaeologists instituted the European Archaeological Heritage Prize in 1999. An independent Heritage Prize Committee awards the Prize annually for an outstanding contribution to the generation of archaeological heritage knowledge and its dissemination, and to the protection, presentation and enhancement of European archaeological heritage.
As of 2018, nominations for the Prize are received in either of two categories:
- Individual category for an outstanding scholarly contribution or personal involvement,
- Institutional category for local, regional, national or international initiatives, long- or short-term, which contribute to the preservation and presentation of European archaeological heritage beyond the normal duties of the institution.
The same nomination form is used for both categories, with a different emphasis in the evaluated criteria.
The major evaluation criteria – recommended to be addressed in the application form – are as follows:
- Scholarly (academic contribution)
- Societal (contribution to generation of community values based on heritage)
- Heritage (achievements within heritage protection / management / conceptual development)
- Political (political-level impact to further the standing of archaeological heritage)