Apply for an investigation permit

It is possible to apply for an investigation permit for field inspections, research in water bodies, paleontological research, excavations, geophysical prospections or expert opinions.

For all investigations into archaeological or paleontological ground monuments, an investigation permit is required in accordance with § 22 of the Hessian Monument Protection Act (HDSchG). This is granted upon application and after examination of the requirements by the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments Hesse, Department of HesseARCHAEOLOGY.

The search permit under monument law is granted to private applicants with certain ancillary provisions and a defined search area. In order to protect the archaeological and paleontological heritage, it is necessary to ensure that the investigator has sufficient knowledge to carry out the requested research. In order to be able to evaluate the basic knowledge as well as experience and qualifications required for an investigation, private applicants are interviewed in person with the responsible specialists of the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments in Hesse. You will be invited to a personal interview. This obligatory interview forms the basis of the cooperation between you and hessenARCHÄOLOGIE.

In the case of an application by archaeological or paleontological specialist companies or scientific institutions, information on the scientific management personnel employed is collected, among other things. If you have not yet been active in Hesse as a specialist company or institution, you will be asked to contact hessenARCHAEOLOGY before submitting your application.

The responsibility lies with the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments Hesse -

hesseARCHAEOLOGY

Please contact the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments Hesse -

hesseARCHAEOLOGY

No documents are required.

• Forms: Online application form
• Online procedure possible: yes
• Written form required: no
• Personal appearance required: yes

For private applicants: no legal requirements. An interest in archaeology and history and/or paleontology and a basic understanding of the concerns of archaeological monument preservation are required. You can explain this to us in your personal interview with your responsible subject specialist when submitting your initial application.

For excavation companies and research institutions: Name of the scientific management staff for the proposed measure.

No opposition procedure possible. The legal remedy is the lawsuit. In the event of refusal, an action for an undertaking is admissible and, in the case of (separable) ancillary provisions, an action for annulment.

Request for enquiry by private individuals:

• After reviewing your application, you will first receive a cover letter with information on field inspections.
• You will then be invited to a personal interview with the responsible specialist at hessenARCHÄOLOGIE.

• In a personal interview, you will explain your desired research project as well as your previous knowledge, experience and, if applicable, qualifications in the field of archaeology and/or paleontology.

• If your research project is approved, ancillary provisions will be determined according to the project and your previous knowledge. Particularly noteworthy here is the definition of a search area and the mandatory submission of find reports.

• In principle, the research permit for citizens is granted for one calendar year at a time and can be reapplied for informally at the end of the year (together with the submission of your find reports).

• In the first year of application, the use of a technical device (such as a metal detector) cannot be approved. The use of a metal detector requires special prior knowledge and an increased sense of responsibility for the protection of archaeological monuments. It can therefore be applied for at the earliest in the second year of cooperation with hessenARCHÄOLOGIE.

Investigation request by specialist companies and scientific institutions

• If you have not yet worked in Hesse on the basis of a research permit from hessenARCHÄOLOGIE, it is necessary to contact hessenARCHÄOLOGIE before submitting your application.

Investigation authorisations issued to individuals shall be valid for the calendar year in which they were issued.

• In the case of applications submitted by private individuals, the processing time depends heavily on the volume of applications and the type of application and the availability of appointments for personal interviews. After the personal interview, the written investigation permit is usually issued within 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the number of applications. The maximum total processing time is 3 months.
• In the case of applications submitted by specialist companies and institutions, the investigation permit is usually issued within a week.

There are no costs.

• Basic information on the investigation permit for citizens
• Further information on the website of the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments Hesse
• Specialist companies operating in Hesse
• Guidelines for research by specialist companies and scientific institutions