Awards
Each fall the Council of Virginia Archaeologists (CoVA) presents awards in memory of Michael Hoffman, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Virginia, and Virginia Sherman, Westmoreland County’s Historic Preservation Officer. The Hoffman Award, for organizations, and the Sherman Award, for individuals, recognize those outside of the professional archaeological community who have made significant contributions to archaeological site preservation or historic preservation within the Commonwealth. Some examples of possible recipients include local municipalities, corporations, politicians and developers.
In addition, the McCary Award is given jointly by the Archeological Society of Virginia and the Council of Virginia Archaeologists in recognition of the best student paper in prehistoric archaeology at the ASV Annual Meeting.
Contact the CoVA Awards Committee for more information.
Sherman & Hoffman Awards
The contributions made by the nominee could include, but are not limited to, advocacy and/or enactment of pro-preservation laws and proffers, research funding, site preservation, easement donations or support of public education programs.
The following criteria are intentionally vague in order to encourage creativity in recognizing those who actively seek to save our cultural heritage.
* Nominations will exclude professional archaeologists.
* The contribution must have had a direct and significant impact on an archaeological
site or historic preservation in Virginia.
2008 Michael Allen Hoffman AWARD
recipient: The Buckland Preservation
Society
The Buckland Preservation Society (BPS) has worked tirelessly to preserve the historic and cultural landscape of the late 18th century mercantile village of Buckland, located along Route 29 in Prince William County, under the constant pressure of private development as well as state and federal transportation departments. Through the efforts of individuals such as David Blake and Linda Wright, a number of late eighteenth century buildings and more than fifty archeological sites have been preserved within the 400-acre Buckland National Register Historic District.
2008 VIRGINIA SHERMAN AWARD
Recipient: Alan Crockett
Since the 1970s, Alan Crockett has made continuous efforts to promote an understanding of Lee County archaeology, to document and protect sites within the county and to share information with the professional archaeological community. Time and again, he has provided information and assistance to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and was instrumental in preservation of the Ely Mound (44LE12), providing guidance to the property owner which culminated in the 2006 granting of an open space and historic easement on the site to the Virginia Outdoors Foundation and the Department of Historic Resources.
Ben McCary Award
Award not presented in 2008
The award's namesake, Dr. Ben McCary, a Professor of Classics at the College of William and Mary, was a leader in Virginia archaeology who played a major role in the founding and development of the ASV. Originating the "Virginia Fluted Point Survey," Dr. McCary is best known for his work at the Williamson PaleoIndian Site in Dinwiddie County.
