2021 John L. Cotter Award for Excellence in NPS Archeology

Jed Levin at the President's House site; David Barland-Liles with Carolyn Fiscus of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska; Dedication ceremony of the African American Burial Ground at Fort Frederica with the Geechee Gullah Shouters and minister of the First African Baptist Church, St. Simons Island. (NPS)

The John L. Cotter Award for Excellence in National Park Service Archeology is awarded annually to honor the long and distinguished career and pioneering contributions of Dr. John L. Cotter. The award was established as inspiration for student and professional archeologists to continue Dr. Cotter’s model of excellence. The award recognizes the archeological accomplishments of NPS staff or a partnership researcher within a unit or units of the National Park System.

The Cotter Award recognizes two categories. The Professional Achievement Category is awarded to individuals with demonstrated long-term service in the NPS. The Project Achievement Category is awarded to an individual or a group of people for a single fixed-year activity or a multi-year effort of work on submerged or terrestrial archaeological resources. This work may include excavation and analysis, symposia, publications, outreach, collaboration, or a combination of these activities.

The winners of the Cotter Award for 2021 are:

Jed Levin (Professional Achievement)

Jed Levin’s work illustrates the importance of archeology in revealing the hidden histories of our past and ways it can inform us about human relations in the present. Throughout his career with the NPS Northeast Region Archeology Program, where he led archeological efforts at Steamtown NHS, the Path of Progress National Heritage Tour Route, and Independence NHP, Levin has focused on America’s complex and sometimes troubling history. His passion for public engagement is evident in his work, whether interacting with visitors during excavations at Independence NHP or in the public Archeology Lab, meeting with stakeholders, or supporting the Philadelphia Archeological Forum to advocate for the protection of archeological resources in the city. Through his dedication and leadership, Levin’s work has led to meaningful changes in ways that archeological resources are identified, mitigated, and represented within the NPS.     

Michael Seibert and Eric Bezemek (Project Excellence)

The project "Locating the African American Cemetery at Fort Frederica National Monument" resolved a long-standing question of the location of burials of enslaved and freed populations of African Americans on St. Simons Island, Georgia. Working closely with stakeholders, Seibert and Bezemek developed a research methodology to locate burials with minimal ground disturbance, established a committee who participated in the decision-making process, and hosted a re-dedication ceremony involving four different religious sects. The project culminated in a day-long festival celebrating Gullah Geechee cultural heritage. They supervised and mentored students and volunteers who played integral roles in researching biographies of the interred individuals, developing outreach events and materials, and contacting stakeholder groups. A new museum exhibit at Fort Frederica will highlight the insights gained from this project.

Jim Nepstad, Bob Palmer, David Barland-Liles, Caven Clark, Albert LeBeau III, Keeley Renee-Tucker, Jeff Richner, Sheila Oberreuter, Jeremy Parker, and Alex Coté (Award of Special Recognition)

The Cotter Award committee recognizes the “Resolving United States v. Thomas A. Munson” project team for their work investigating and prosecuting a case of stolen indigenous human remains from Effigy Mounds National Monument. With the help of the team, the park initiated open and honest relationships with Tribal partners. These relationships contributed to the long-sought return of indigenous ceremonies within the monument and fostered management activities increasingly enhanced by Tribal partner knowledge and government-to-government transparency.