[OR_Archaeology] OR Archaeologists & their Firm Recognized as Heritage Heroes!

[Susan White]

PORTLAND COMPANY RECOGNIZED FOR SITE PROTECTION
 
A Portland company and two of its employees have been honored by the Heritage Programs of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for their discovery of looting at an excavation site and taking steps to prevent further damage.
 
In October, Stacy Schneyder and Meris Mullaley of ICF Jones & Stokes were walking by a downtown Portland lot where a building had been recently demolished. They noticed a man digging and removing items from an open pit. Schneyder and Mullaley recognized the items as historic
artifacts. Being archaeologists, they recognized the objects were being handled inappropriately and approached the man. They requested to see the state-issued permit that is required before archaeological investigation begins. He did not have a permit, and quickly packed up and left.
 
Schneyder and Mullaley immediately notified Portland city officials, police and the State Historic Preservation Office. Their employer, ICF Jones & Stokes, understood the gravity of the situation, and allowed them to stay at the location on paid time to ensure no further violations. Schneyder and Mullaley remained at the site for four hours until it was secured. 
 
"It took great courage and dedication on the part of Stacy and Meris to confront the looter and then stand guard over the site until they knew it was protected," said state archaeologist Dennis Griffin, "It took real altruism on the part of ICF Jones & Stokes to grant them paid time to ensure that a valuable historic resource was protected."
 
The Heritage Stewardship Recognition Program was initiated to raise the profile of Oregonians who go the extra mile in protecting the state's cultural heritage. Heritage stewardship encompasses many actions, from the reporting of an archaeological site to preserving historic buildings.
 
OPRD Assistant Director and Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Roger Roper says the stewardship certificate is one way these extraordinary efforts can be spotlighted. "We are happy to create a way to recognize people doing good deeds for historic resources in the state," he said. 
 
Heritage Programs of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department includes the Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries, the Oregon Heritage Commission, the Oregon Historic Trails Advisory Council and the State Historic Preservation Office. 
 
See current  and previous award recipients at
 
http://www.oregonheritage.org/OPRD/HCD/HH.shtml 
 
For more information or to recommend someone for a certificate contact Kuri Gill at 
 
Kuri.Gill at state.or.us 
 
or call (503) 986-0685.
 
 
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