2015 John L. Cotter Award for Excellence in NPS Archeology

The Cultural Resources, Partnerships, and Science Directorate is pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 John L. Cotter Award for Excellence in National Park Service Archeology. This year, two projects were recognized for exemplary scientific archeological research, community involvement and public education.

The winners are:

Adam Johnson (Lead Project Archeologist), Laura Carter Schuster, Mary Jane Naone, Todd Croteau, Dana Lockett and Everett Wingert (University of Hawai’i at Manoa)

The team on the Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site Earthquake Stabilization Project (2007-2011) worked with local community members to repair damage to traditional Hawaiian masonry in the park caused by a 2006 earthquake. The project included archeological fieldwork, new and innovative recordation and mapping technology, and public participation. A team of archeologists, geographers, historical architects, structural engineers and traditional Hawaiian masons worked collaboratively to restore damaged dry wall masonry. The project resulted in the documentation and stabilization of archeological sites as well as the transference of traditional Hawaiian knowledge and skills.

Watch the webinar: Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site Earthquake Stabilization Project

Archeology at Cape Krusenstern. NPS photo.

Adam Freeburg (Gates of the Arctic NP&P and Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve) and Shelby Anderson (Portland State University)

For the "200 Generations: On the Beach of their Time: Human-Environmental Dynamics at Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Alaska (2006-2014)" project, Freeburg and Anderson directed survey and testing of archeological sites at Cape Krusenstern. Dozens of NPS personnel and volunteers, and 66 students participated in the project. Freeburg and Anderson’s work correlated climatic and environmental variability with observable culture change and led to a better understanding of late-Holocene prehistory. The project included public outreach and education efforts in several local schools.

Watch the webinar: 200 Generations: On the Beach of their Time: Human-Environmental Dynamics at Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Alaska (2006-2014)