Criteria for the Significant Contribution Award
  1. GENERAL CRITERIA FOR THE AWARD

    WHO MAY RECEIVE THE AWARD?
    The award may be given to an individual or individuals or it may be given to an organization or company, who have made a significant contribution to archaeology in the Middle Atlantic Region. Nominees may be professional or avocational archaeologists or organizations.

    WHEN IS THE AWARD GIVEN?
    This award should be given on a yearly basis in order to promote excellence in archaeology.

    HOW ARE THE AWARDEE(S) NOMINATED?
    When the call for papers goes out, nomination forms will be enclosed with the call. These nominations will be filled out in accordance with criteria listed below. In addition to the form a statement of contributions must be included for avocational archaeologists and for professional or avocational organizations/companies. A vitae must be included for professional archaeologists so that the committee will have some way of knowing how that individual meets the criteria.

    WHO SELECTS THE AWARDEE(S)?
    An awards committee of at least three individuals: 2 professional archaeologists and one open position (i.e. professional or avocational), will be elected at the business meeting the year before the award is given. This committee will review the nominations and vitae submitted for each nominee and will make the final decision. This committee will also review and select nominations for the Life Time Achievement Award.

    WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR THE AWARD?
    The award will be given based on how well the individual meets standards listed under these categories: ethics, research, outreach, and service. In order for individuals or organizations/companies to be considered as awardees, the ethical standards must be met in their entirety, and at least one standard under the other categories must be met. The categories and their standards are discussed in Part II.

    2.  
  2. SPECIFIC CRITERIA FOR THE AWARD
     
    1. ETHICS
      Nominees for the award have not been involved in the "...willful destruction, distortion, or concealment of data...", nor have they been involved in the buying or selling of artifacts.
       
    2. RESEARCH
      1. The content of the nominee's research should provide a better understanding of the area in which it took place. Ideally this research should be applicable to a broad area within the Middle Atlantic region.
      2. The nominee's methodology should adhere to professional standards. If the nominee is being judged for methodological considerations, his/her methodology should include new techniques which have improved data collection and/or analysis.
      3. The nominee has made his/her research available to other scholars through the publication of journal articles, reports, and/or books, and through the delivery of papers at conferences. In the case of Cultural Resource Management research projects being considered as nominees, the final report should go beyond a simple listing of data retrieved and include interpretation.
      4. The nominee has made his/her data available to other scholars and researchers, regardless of whether the data and associated collections are in museums, other institutions or in private hands.
      5. Artifacts gathered by the nominee during research are properly provenienced and stored.
         
    1. OUTREACH
      1. The nominee has participated regularly in public education through:
        1. the development of exhibits or media exhibits or;
        2. the organization of special events or;
        3. the delivery of public lectures or teaching.
      2. The nominee has served as a mentor to students of archaeology and has provided a positive experience through this mentorship.
         
    1. SERVICE
      1. The nominee has participated in an archaeological organization, for instance, serving as a board member or officer.
      2. The nominee has lobbied for historic preservation.