The Royal Archaeological Institute was founded in 1844.
The Institute's interests span all aspects of the archaeological, architectural and landscape history of the British Isles. Membership is open to all with an interest in these areas.
The primary activities of the Institute are:
- Monthly lectures. Lectures take place from October to May and are held at the Society of Antiquaries of London, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London at 5 p.m. These are given by visiting speakers on recent research, current archaeological projects and new discoveries. Most lectures are recorded and available to members on our website and YouTube channel. See our Lecture programme for more details.
- Annual Meetings. Meetings are held as follows: a day trip in the autumn, a weekend visit in the spring and a week-long trip in the summer. See this year's Meetings.
- Annual conference. Occasional conferences are hosted around the country which focus on particular periods and regions of Britain and Ireland or on topics of national current interest. See the Conference page for more details.
- Publications. The Institute publishes The Archaeological Journal, a prestigious refereed journal and a Newsletter.
- Grant awards. The Institute awards grants for archaeological research and excavation. For information on how to apply and to see recent grant recipients, go to our Grants page.
- Providing advice and contributing to opinion forming. The Institute actively participates in areas of public concern that fall within its remit.
Find out more about our Council Members and Officers, view our Royal Charter and download copies of our Statutes and Council Reports at the foot of this page.
The RAI is a registered charity (226222), and our work is funded solely by membership fees, donations and the sale of publications. Please support us by joining the society.