Professional and Avocational Awards
2023 Professional Archaeologist Award
Aaron M. Wright was presented with the 2023 Professional Archaeologist Award in recognition of the contributions he has made to the AAS since he first started working with volunteers from several chapters in 2007 and for his continued involvement with the AAS through giving talks, leading hikes and fieldtrips, and teaching.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, in 1999, his Master of Arts from Washington State University, Pullman, WA in 2006 and his Doctor of Philosophy from Washington State University in 2011. All three of his degrees are in Anthropology/Archaeology.
Shortly after graduating in 1999 he began working on numerous cultural resource management projects in New Mexico, Arizona, California, Washington, and Oklahoma, which inspired him to seek advanced degrees in Anthropology. For his 2006 Master’s degree, and working with Crow Canyon’s Village Ecodynamics Project, he used a pollen profile from a subalpine fen to develop an important climatic reconstruction for the Mesa Verde region of southwestern Colorado. From 2006 to 2010, while in graduate school at Washington State University, he was also a Preservation Fellow with Archaeology Southwest and a collaborator with the City of Phoenix and Arizona State University on the South Mountain Rock Art Project. He used this project as the basis for his doctoral dissertation, which was published as “Religion on the Rocks” in 2014..
While he was doing fieldwork on the South Mountain Project, he had help from a number of AAS volunteers in excavations (2007) and in petroglyph surveys (2007-2009) and was a Student Representative on the AAS Phoenix Chapter Board in 2007-2008. Since then he has given 18 talks for seven different AAS chapters, led numerous hikes for several chapters, taught the AAS Rock Imagery Documentation Class last winter through Old Pueblo, and has given 3 talks at AAS State Meetings.
He has also published extensively, including journal articles, book chapters, book reviews, and technical reports, as well as editing and/or co-editing a number of books and monographs. He has also participated actively in symposiums for the Arizona Historic Preservation Conference, ARARA, the SAA, and the Tri-National Symposium.
AAS Professional Archaeologist Award History <<<Please click here for Professional Award History.
2019 AVOCATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGIST AWARD
Was presented to Bob & Del Wright, AAS Rim Country Chapter
Entry submitted by Evelyn Christian, President, RCC
In accordance with the AAS Award Purpose and Criteria, the AAS Rim Country Chapter in Payson, Arizona, recognizes two of our Chapter members as being worthy of this Award. Bob and Del Wright have not previously received this Award. As a couple, they have consistently contributed to our Chapter over a period of more than a dozen years. Bob and Del began searching for and recording unknown Indian Ruins in 1993. Bob and Del together as advocates have contributed much to the archaeological record in the years they have been associated with the Arizona Archaeology Society. They have located, GPS-recorded, and photographed over 8000 sites in Arizona. And they have been Site Stewards for 22 years!
Bob and Del have always performed as a skilled team calling on their athleticism and outdoor experiences to allow them to spend as much time in the field, even at an older age, discovering and surveying remote archaeological sites throughout Arizona, many of which had not been previously recorded by archaeologists. Their typical method of discovery is to trailer in their ATV’s with their Cadillac, jump on the ATV’s when the road is impassible, and finally continue on foot and rope into the final objective when required.
Within our Rim Country Chapter, they have led innumerable hikes following our monthly meetings, and continue to step up to lead hikes on special occasions. Considering that Bob and Del are in their 80s, that is a remarkable achievement. Del has inspired Bob in all athletic events as she is a National Women’s Triathlon Champion, and he himself is a Triathlete. Not only have they led so many of us on so many petroglyph discoveries, but for many years secured Speakers for our Monthly Chapter Meetings in conjunction with the post-meeting hikes. They always display generous spirits as evidenced in their gifts of time, energy, talent and support of our Chapter and its members.
Del once told me that they have a special place in their hearts for us here in Rim Country. They could support other AAS Chapters, but have chosen us, and drive the distance from Fountains Hills each month to be with us, often bringing family, neighbors and friends.
A little about their backgrounds:
Bob served two years in the Army Military Police during the Korean War. He drew duty at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Paris, France. He married Airline Stewardess and Nurse Del shortly after discharge and together they raised 4 children.
Bob received his Mechanical Engineering Degree from Iowa State College on the GI Bill. He spent 30 years in Advanced Technology Rockwell/Collins/Boeing while concurrently managing Technology Groups in Iowa, Texas, California, and Maine. His work involved design of Autopilots, Flight Directors, GPS, and Interconnect Technology. He did a Technical Presentation at a World Interconnect Technology Conference in London, England.
Together, Bob and Del toured the World upon retirement covering 5 Continents and 30 Countries. They have completed 400 Athletic Events including Iron Man - Hawaii, and bicycled the US Coast-to-Coast on an unusual route of 4000 miles in 90 days.
<<<Please click here for Avocational Award History.
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2018 Professional Archaeologist Award
The 2018 Professional Archaeologist Award was presented to Sharon Urban at our 2018 Annual Meeting in Payson, Arizona.
Sharon earned her Associate of Arts degree from Los Angeles Valley College in 1962, her Bachelor of Arts from California State University in 1965, and her Master of Arts from the University of Arizona in 1970. All three of her degrees are in Anthropology/Archaeology.
As an Archaeologist, Sharon was involved with many excavations, surveys, and laboratory projects in California and Arizona. In 1976 she became the Arizona State Museum Public Archaeologist. In this position she managed and curated, while controlling access, use and additions, to the ASM Site Survey File,
Sharon developed strong research interests in the study, recording, preservation, conservation and teaching of rock art including pictographs, petroglyphs, and gravel figures. She has maintained these interest throughout her life.
Since leaving the State Museum in 2002, she has continued to work as an archaeologist for private environmental and cultural resources consulting companies, conducting site file checks of various levels, researching historical features, doing field surveys and feature mapping, monitoring construction projects involving archaeological sites, and writing reports.
Her more than 50 publications attest that Sharon has a broad knowledge of southwestern archaeology and that she is an authority on both rock art and shell artifacts.
--Glenda A. Simmons, 2014/2018 AAS State Chair
Note: Belt buckle below is part of the recognition for the AAS Professional Archaeologist of the Year in addition to a plaque.
AAS Professional Archaeologist Award History <<<Please click here for Professional Award History.
2018 AAS Avocational Archaeologist Award
The 2018 Avocational Archaeologist Award was present to Nancy Zeno, a Desert Foothills Chapter member, at our 2018 Annual Meeting in Payson, Arizona.
Throughout the years since 1985 when Nancy Zeno first joined the Desert Foothills Chapter, she has been very active in trying to identify and protect archaeological sites under threat of development activities in the Cave Creek and Scottsdale area.
Her efforts at the Chapter and State level include: Chapter President, Treasurer and Membership Chair, Director, Certification Representative, Speaker Chair, Archivist and AAS State Secretary. Nancy has also participated in many AAS DFC archaeological projects and activities including the survey, locating, recording, mapping, collecting surface samples, and conducting test excavations of archaeological sites
She has contributed greatly to the accomplishments and professionalism of the Society, and to the respect that it has earned within the greater archaeological community in Arizona.
--Glenda A. Simmons, 2014/2018 AAS State Chair
AAS Avocational Archaeologist Award History.pdf <<<Please click here for Avocational Award History.