2004 Medals & Awards Rip Rapp Archaeological Geology Award
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2004 MEDALS & AWARDS RIP RAPP claims of a pre-Clovis site. His assessments are When it came time for college, I asked critical and much valued by the community. Paul Ezell where I should go to school to ARCHAEOLOGICAL However, he casts a critical eye in a humane obtain a degree in archaeology. He sent me to GEOLOGY AWARD and jovial manner, seeking clarity with his old alma mater in Arizona. There I started consideration of previous efforts. It is to Mike’s as an undergraduate in the department of Presented to Michael R. Waters credit that many archaeologists and Quaternary anthropology. Because of my interests in the geologists continue to seek his input because peopling of the Americas, I became acquainted he forwards alternative ideas, based on the fi eld with Julian Hayden. Julian taught me much and laboratory data, and openly enriches the about desert archaeology and introduced me to dialectic. In one of his many posts at Texas A&M radical thinking about the fi rst inhabitants of the as Executive Director, North Star Archaeological Americas. During this time, I was also infl uenced Research Program he gathers a diverse group by Vance Haynes who taught me that it was of archaeologists, geologists, geophysicists and essential to understand the geology and dating of geochemists focused on critically evaluating sites in order to pursue fi rst Americans research. evidence for pre-Clovis occupation at sites across With the encouragement of Ted Smiley, Larry the Americas. In this new role he continues to Agenbroad, Julian Hayden, and others I changed integrate new approaches and ideas that will my major from archaeology to geology, and redefi ne the archaeologic record for the earliest throughout the rest of my education I straddled occupation of the Americas. both fi elds. To his credit Mike takes risks and the After graduation, I was fortunate to obtain community often benefi ts. Case-in-point, is his a position as a geoarchaeologist at Texas A&M landmark research at the Diring Yuriak Site in University in the Departments of Anthropology Michael R. Waters Russia, which provided the oldest evidence of and Geography. From this base, I have been Texas A&M University Arctic habitation by humans and these results able to work on the fi rst Americas problem; appeared in Science. Mike ventured up the Lena conducting research at early sites in the United River alone, befriended a “grizzly bear” of a States, Russia, and Mexico. I was also able to Citation by Steven L. Forman site archeologist, evaluated, and photographed pursue research on the landscape evolution of artifacts, established for the fi rst time a verifi able many streams in southern Arizona in an effort to It is an honor and a pleasure to present stratigraphic context, and hand carried back understand the effects of landscape changes on the citation for the 2004 Rip Rapp Award pounds of luminescence samples to fi nally late prehistoric agriculturalists. A great day came to Dr. Michael R. Waters (Professor, Texas date this site. I am impressed with how much in 2002 when Rob Bonnichsen and the Center A&M University) in recognition of his many Mike accomplishes and sees at “unworkable” for the Study of the First Americans relocated to contributions to geoarchaeology. Mike is no archaeological sites. Texas A&M University. Since the move, Rob and stranger to GSA awards, having received the In the charged arena of research on the I have been conducting collaborative research at Kirk Bryan Award with Vance Haynes in 2003 peopling of America, Mike Waters is a calm, early sites in Mexico, Texas, Wisconsin, South for their work on Holocene arroyo dynamics down-to-earth, data-bound and thoughtful voice. Carolina, and elsewhere. in the Southwestern U.S. The Rip Rapp Award He is not distracted or lured by media attention All along the way, I have had the good is particularly distinctive for Mike because but, sticks to the geoarchaeologic context. Mike fortune to meet and work with many wonderful it recognizes how he has uniquely blended is a quality person and under the worst fi eld archaeologists and geologists. I have had the archaeology and Quaternary Geology and conditions keeps his cheer. He is scrupulously chance to work with and forge long standing Geomorphology to advance the evolving science fair to all, humble, but has a real drive to push friendships with colleagues such as Steve of geoarchaeology. Mike’s quest to integrate frontiers of knowledge. His scholarship, diverse Forman. I have been blessed with wonderful these disciplines started in graduate school at abilities, endless optimism, creativity, humanity, students such as Lee Nordt. Every site I have the University of Arizona where he immersed and ability to integrate across disciplines worked on has been an adventure, a learning himself in the worlds of Vance Haynes and Bill distinguish him as a scientists deserving of the experience, and a chance to make new friends. Bull. This explains his predilection for Clovis Rip Rapp Award. None of what I have done would have been and older sites and imaginative approaches possible without the support of my wife Susan in interpreting fl uvial terrace sequences. He and daughter Kate. Both have endured my many possesses an ease and clarity in skillfully uniting Response by Michael R. Waters absences in the name of archaeology. archaeologic and Quaternary geologic records I mention my past and some of the people providing interpretative frameworks for vast It is a great honor to receive the Rip Rapp that have helped me along the way in order to say areas in the Southwestern U.S., south Texas, Award for 2004. I would not be here today that I am not alone tonight at this podium. I am the Savannah River in South Carolina, the Lena without the support of my family, friends, here because of many people. I stand here on the River in Russia, and soon-to-come for central colleagues, and teachers. shoulders of my family, and those of my teachers, Mexico. His vast experience, contributions, and My interests in archaeology and geology friends, and colleagues. I thank all of them. insights are refl ected in the elegantly written text began early in San Diego County, California. In closing, I thank Steve Forman for his Geoarchaeology, which is an invaluable source My parents, Jane and John Waters, supported kind words tonight, Lee Nordt for nominating me book for students, practitioners, and professionals. and encouraged these interests. As a high school for this award, and the Archaeological Geology Mike is an astute fi eld geologist. He student, I assisted with excavations and surveys Division for this honor. is highly motivated to see the artifactual, all over San Diego County working mostly for stratigraphic and geochronologic evidence for Paul Ezell and Charlotte McGowen. THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2004 MEDALS & AWARDS GILBERT H. CADY Bob developed the most comprehensive Bob’s distinguished career, involving approach to quantitatively determining the research, teaching, and administration has AWARD modes of occurrence in elements in coal. made a large and lasting impact upon the fi eld Presented to Robert B. Finkelman Quantifying these modes of occurrence of coal geology. Bob personifi es devotion is essential for model development for to coal science, promotion of science in the forecasting their behavior during coal interest of humanity, and collaborative efforts. cleaning, combustion, conversion, leaching, For Bob’s pioneering work on the inorganic and weathering and for anticipating their geochmistry of coal and his innovative spirit, technologic, environmental, and human health he is most deserving of the Gilbert H. Cady impacts. Bob and his colleagues refi ned Award. and combined the unique selective leaching protocol developed earlier with quantitative microprobe analysis, semi-quantitative X-ray Response by Robert B. Finkelman diffraction analysis, and scanning electron I am thrilled and honored to receive microscopy. The merger of these techniques the prestigious Gilbert H. Cady Award. The has resulted in a highly reliable method that is award signifi es that a lifetime of professional accurate and reproducible. work in coal science has been recognized and Among other accomplishments, Bob’s deemed to be worthy by those who know the human health project at the U.S. Geological topic best. What more can a scientist ask for? Survey (USGS) has been a source of human As all my distinguished predecessors, I too Robert B. Finkelman health and biomedical-related information have benefi ted from mentoring and guidance U.S. Geological Survey – Reston to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology from some very talented colleagues who gave (AFIP). In conjunction with AFIP, Bob has generously of their time. Special thanks goes offered workshops on the human health to Hal Gluskoter who befriended me when he impacts of coal use and metals around the was with the Illinois State Geological Survey, Citation by Brenda Pierce world. Most recently Bob was asked by the snatched me from the USGS when he was U.S. Embassy in South Africa to spend time This year’s recipient of the Gilbert H. with Exxon, and enticed me back after he there to raise awareness of coal related health Cady Award is Robert B. Finkelman, in joined the USGS. Sam Altschuler, Irv Breger, issues. He took advantage of the opportunity recognition of his outstanding achievements Ed Dwornik, Mary Mrose, Dal Swaine, and and spread the word about human health issues in the fi elds of coal geochemistry and quality. Pete Zubovic all made important contributions throughout the region. Bob was one of the fi rst coal researchers to my professional development. To these and In addition to his research career, Bob to specialize in trace elements and mineral to more than 400 coauthors and numerous is an inexhaustible source of national and matter in coal and he has helped set some of colleagues and associates, I owe an enormous international collaborative relationships.