Archaeologists J. Heilman and Bradley Lepper received awards for their service to Ohio archaeology at the OAC fall membership meeting in Newark on November 1. 

J. (James M.) Heilman received the OAC Board's award for "Significant contributions to the advancement of Archaeology in Ohio."  Heilman served as Curator of Anthropology for the Dayton Museum of Natural History (later the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery) from 1969 until 2000.  In that capacity, he made significant contributions to archaeological research, preservation, public education, and the development of cooperative relationships with Native Americans. He directed archaeological investigations at sites in Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, and Preble counties.  His most notable work focused on the Incinerator Site, later to become famous as SunWatch Village .  Between 1969 and 1992, he directed the investigation of SunWatch, which, due largely to his efforts, was preserved by the City of Dayton and ultimately recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1990. Heilman was recognized in 1985 with the Public Education and Awareness Award from the Ohio Historic Preservation Office and the Ohio Historical Society.  In 1989, the Ohio Arts Council / Ohio Humanities Council selected his work at SunWatch as their most exemplary project.

 

Bradley Lepper received the OAC's Public Awareness Award in recognition of significant contributions to the advancement of Archaeology in Ohio.  The OAC Board cited Dr. Lepper's efforts toward the nomination of several Ohio Hopewell sites to the list of World Heritage sites as well as his regular column on Ohio Archaeology in the Columbus Dispatch as significantly increasing the public's awareness of Archaeology and Ohio's prehistoric heritage.