E. Mott Davis Award for Public Outreach

Named for Dr. E. Mott Davis in honor of his lifelong contributions to bridging the gap between professional archaeology and the public, the purpose of this award is to encourage contract archeological firms and their clients to include outreach efforts in cultural resource management projects. First awarded in 2001, the E. Mott Davis Award for Public Outreach is to be conferred at the Spring Meeting of the Council of Texas Archeologists and will recognize outstanding efforts made by a firm, agency, or institution to advance public awareness and appreciation of archeology, and to foster support for the preservation and protection of archeological resources. Projects that promote anti-looting messages, that foster an understanding of how archeologists answer research questions, or that cultivate an awareness of how archeology differs from artifact collecting are encouraged for submission.

Past nominations have featured publicly oriented books and brochures, museum exhibits, classroom curricula, public lectures, and site tours.

Past Winners: 

2023: Amy Reid, Center for Archeological Studies Curator and doctoral student at Texas State University. Awarded for her children's book Maybe You'll be an Archaeologist.

2021: Bolivar Archeological Project (Douglas K. Boyd, Dr. Alex Menaker, Amy Dase (Cox|McLain Environmental Consulting, Inc.), Dr. Kevin Hanselka, Waldo Troell, Laura Cruzada and Emily McCann (Texas Department of Transportation), Dr. Maria Franklin, Howard Clark, and Halee Wright (Department of Anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin), David and Elyse Curtsinger, and Justin Curtsinger  (Curtsinger Family), Kim Cupit (Denton County Office of History and Culture), and Jimmy Barrera, Catrina Banks Whitley, and James Everett (North Texas Archeological Society). 

• TxDOT Roadside Chat - Bolivar: The Once Wild West
  
• "I'll Tell You of My Troubles On the Old Chisolm Trail" (Program Presented to North Texas Archeological Society)
  

2020: Kleb Woods Nature Center Public Archaeology Project (Ashley E. Jones, Moore Archeological Consulting, Inc., Sharon Menegaz, Houston Archeological Society, Robert (Bob) Sewell, Houston Archeological Society, and Fred Collins, Kleb Woods Nature Preserve).

2019: Data Recovery at the Headwaters of the Comal (New Braunfels Utilities, The Headwaters of the Comal Non-Profit, and AmaTerra Environmental, Inc.)

2018: Spring Lake Site Data Recovery Project, Hays County (Amy Reid and Todd Ahlman (Center for Archeological Studies at Texas State University), and Skipper Scott and Jimmy Barrera (US Army Corp of Engineers))

2017: Frost Town Archaeology (Doug Boyd (Prewitt & Associates, Inc.), Jason Barrett (TxDOT), Alan Bettis (TxDOT), and the Houston Archeological Society)

2016: San Felipe Heritage Learning Project Outreach Program (Dr. Jon Lohse (Coastal Environments, Inc.), Brett Cruse (Texas Historical Commission), Bryan McAuley (Texas Historical Commission), and Carol Salva (Spring Branch ISD))

2015: TxDOT Interactive Digital Report (Mason Miller, Waldo Troell, and Jim Abbott)

2014: TxDOT/HAS (41HR796) Screening Project (Dr. Jason Barrett (TxDOT), Dr. Roger Moore (Moore Archeological Consulting, Inc.), Richard Weinstein (Coastal Environments, Inc.), and the Houston Archeological Society)

2013: No Award

2012: Spindle Top Project (Dr. James Karbula)

2011: Ransom and Sarah Williams Project (Doug Boyd (Prewitt & Associates, Inc.), Terri Myers (Historian), Dr. Maria Franklin (University of Texas), and Jon Budd and Dr. Scott Pletka (TxDOT))

2010: City of Austin’s Zilker Park Project (City of Austin, Nick Trierweiler, Rachel Feit, and Mason Miller)

2009: Mission Concepción Courtyard Project (Steve Tomka, Susan Snow, and Antonio Figueroa)

2008: No Award

2007: Signage for Comal County Golf Course (Doug Boyd (Prewitt and Associates, Inc.), Stacy Laird (City of New Braunfels), and Andy Malouf (Lower Colorado River Authority))

2006: Dissemination of archaeological investigations of TXU surface mines in Rusk and Panola counties (Meg Cruse and Wayne Glander (PBS&J), and Sid Stroud, Scott Mills, and Don Montgomery (TXU))

2005: No Award

2004: Data Recovery Excavations at the McGuire’s Garden Site in Jewett Mine (Ross Fields and Sandy Hannum (Prewitt & Associates, Inc.), Nellie Frisbee and Joel Trouart (Northwestern Resources), and Mary Black (UT Austin))

2003: New City Hall Development Project, Downtown Austin. (Dr. James Karbula, Rachel Feit, and John Clark (Hicks & Company) as well as Ron Davis (City of Austin Department of Public Works and Transportation, Architectural and Engineering Services Division))

2002: Fort Hood Historical Research and Site Evaluations Project (Doug Boyd (Prewitt & Associates, Inc.), Cheryl Huckerby (Fort Hood Cultural Resource Management Program), and William Pugsley (Texas Information Network))

2001: Freedman’s Cemetery, Dallas (Nancy Kenmotsu and Anne Irwin (TxDOT), Dr. Mamie McKnight (Black Dallas Remembered), Dr. Harry Robinson (African American Museum), and Geo-Marine, Inc.)