WILLIAMS, Ariz. – Kaibab National Forest archaeologists received statewide recognition Friday as part of the Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Awards. The awards recognize people, organizations, and projects that represent outstanding achievements in preserving Arizona’s prehistoric and historic resources.
Specifically, the Kaibab National Forest Heritage Program received the Government Agency Award in Public Archaeology. The Kaibab National Forest is also a partner in two organizations that received the Private/Non-Profit Entity Award in Public Archaeology. Those organizations are the Grand Canyon Flagstaff Stage Coach Line Partnership and the Kaibab Vermilion Cliffs Heritage Alliance.
“It was fantastic to have our forest heritage program be recognized and to also have the important partnerships of which we are a part be recognized as well,” said Margaret Hangan, Kaibab National Forest heritage program manager. “To be singled out by our peers and the Governor’s Commission is truly a unique honor.”
Since 1982, the Arizona Preservation Foundation and Arizona State Historic Preservation Office/Arizona State Parks have collaborated to present the Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Awards. The award winners are introduced each year at the annual Arizona Statewide Historic Preservation Conference awards luncheon.
This year’s awards luncheon was held in Phoenix and was attended by most of the Kaibab heritage team including Hangan, Connie Reid, Neil Weintrauband Erin Woodard. Members of the heritage team who were not in attendance were Britt Betenson, Mike Lyndon and Mae Franklin. A special guest of the Kaibab archaeologists was John Hanson, the Kaibab National Forest heritage program manager from 1986 to 2007.
“Having John there was important because it takes years of building relationships and working with partners and volunteers to get where the Kaibab is today,” Hangan said. “We are committed to maintaining and enhancing those relationships and to continuing our work to protect and preserve Arizona’s archaeological resources.”
It’s nice to see any archaeology program recognized, but the Kaibab and U.S. Forest Service overall has a good budget. Other agencies such as the BLM, BIA, and NRCS has very little funding for these programs and the resources suffer under their management. The Kaibab has just under 1 million acres, and a staff of at least 3 full-time permanent archaeologists. The BLM staff ratio is one archaeologist for every 3 million acres. At least the Forest Service realizes the importance of having enough staff to manage their resources. Congratulations to the Kaibab staff.
Perhaps the Kaibab has adequate funding, but many other Forests do not. Funding is based upon amount of revenues generated and the Kaibab is in a high tourist area. Please don’t equate their funding with agency-wide adequacy.