Awards

Society for California Archaeology Thomas F. King Award

For excellence in Cultural Resources Management (2010) 

Society for American Archaeology

Far Western’s commitment to quality is exemplified by our President, Dr. William Hildebrandt, who received the 1996 National Award for Excellence in Cultural Resources Management from the Society for American Archaeology. Dr. Hildebrandt was also honored with an appointment to the State Historic Resources Commission by California Governor Gray Davis (2001-2005).

California Preservation Foundation

Our quality of work also has been recognized by the California Preservation Foundation: in 2005 the Foundation presented their Design Award to Jeffrey Rosenthal and Jack Meyer for their groundbreaking Geoarchaeological Study and Sensitivity Model for the Southern Santa Clara, Hollister, and San Juan Valleys.

Governor's Historic Preservation Award

At the Black Creek Site in Calaveras County, Far Western worked with Caltrans to develop innovative solutions to interpret the past, and at the same time assisted the local Me-Wuk people in sharing their history, traditional culture, and values with the general public. For their work, Far Western and Caltrans received the 2007 Governor’s Historic Preservation Award for Prehistoric Research and Public Interpretation.

The studies at Black Creek produced a scientific report that includes landmark contributions to our understanding of California prehistory and a beautiful educational booklet and web piece – Stealing the Sun – that details the Me-wuk story as told through oral history, archaeology, and ethnography. The Tribe now use these products to show the public that the Me-Wuk  are not an ancient people that has passed from the scene, but a culture that continues to flourish.