We are pleased to announce that in May 1997, we presented the first Robert F. Heizer Award for Excellence in California Archaeology, an award that is being endowed annually by a generous donor. The Archaeological Research Facility is, of course, an historic development out of the California Archaeological Survey, established by Heizer in 1948. Heizer was a professor in the Department of Anthropology and was a key figure in the establishment of California archaeology.

The inaugural award was presented to Antoinette Martinez, at the informal gathering prior to the May 1997 Anthropology Commencement exercises. Nette's family were all there, including those from her native New Mexico, and the surprise announcement of the award was a highlight of the May Commencement festivities. Nette was selected for her PhD dissertation, entitled: "An Archaeological Study of Change and Continuity in the Material Remains, Practices, and Cultural Identities of Native California Women in a Nineteenth Century Pluralistic Context". This dissertation is based on extensive and original fieldwork -survey and excavation - in the Fort Ross region of northern California, in order to understand the specific ways in which the lives of native California women were impacted and changed with the settling of Fort Ross by Russian traders and their native Alaskan workers in the early 19th century. Many undergraduate students had unique opportunities to work with Nette, in the field and in the laboratory, as the materials recovered from her work are extensive and informative. As such, Nette has not only shed new light on a heretofore unexplored area of native California history, through archaeology, but has also exposed many students to the excitement and importance of California archaeology. Nette has been awarded a two-year postdoctoral fellowship though the University of California, which finds her working with one of the major researchers in archaeozoology, Dr. Diane Gifford-Gonzalez, University of California, Santa Cruz. Congratulations to Nette -who received $500 and a certificate - and our heartfelt thanks to the donor who established this important award.

Distinguished Service Award

Congratulations to Sherry Parrish, ARF Manager, on receiving a Distinguished Service Award from the Vice Chancellor for Research and the University of California. Sherry was instrumental in reorganizing the ARF administration, researching and correcting various problems within the facility and instituting a new structure. Her dedicated efforts and relentless determination and professionalism have meant a great deal to the facility and the campus administration, for which she was justly recognized!