Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming how researchers analyse, interpret, and manage complex datasets across a wide range of disciplines. From pattern recognition and image analysis to large-scale data integration and predictive modelling, AI offers exciting possibilities for heritage science, archaeology, and osteoarchaeology alike.
The Heritage Science Data Service (HSDS) has announced the forthcoming Building AI Capability and Datasets Fund, supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The scheme aims to unlock the potential of the UK’s heritage digital datasets and support innovative, AI-enabled approaches to heritage research.
This funding opportunity may be particularly relevant to BABAO members working with osteological, bioarchaeological, museum, and heritage datasets. Potential applications could include the development of machine-learning approaches for skeletal analysis, AI-assisted interpretation of archaeological archives, image recognition for osteological collections, or the enhancement and integration of existing heritage datasets.
Funding Details
- Applications open: 2 November 2026
- Application deadline: 4 December 2026
- Project value: Up to £50,000
- Funding level: Up to 80% of eligible project costs
The fund supports projects that build AI capability, improve dataset quality and accessibility, and develop new opportunities for AI-enabled heritage science research.
Information Sessions
HSDS will be hosting two free online information sessions for prospective applicants:
- 9 November 2026 | 11:00-12:00
- 17 November 2026 | 14:00-15:00
These sessions will provide an overview of the scheme, eligibility requirements, and application process, as well as an opportunity to ask questions.
Why This Matters for Osteoarchaeology
As the volume of digital bioarchaeological and osteological data continues to grow, AI offers significant opportunities to enhance research capacity, identify patterns across large datasets, and support new forms of interdisciplinary collaboration. This funding scheme presents an exciting opportunity for researchers, practitioners, and institutions to explore innovative ways of applying AI to the study of human remains, archaeological collections, and heritage resources.
We encourage BABAO members with interests in digital archaeology, data science, heritage science, museum collections, and osteoarchaeology to consider how this funding opportunity could support future research and collaboration.
Further information, application guidance, and registration for the information sessions can be found on the HSDS Grants webpage:
🔗 HSDS Grants: https://hsds.ac.uk/deposit-data/hsds-grants/
This opportunity has been shared with BABAO by Dr Solange Bohling (University of Bradford / University of York).
