2005
Rip Rapp Archaeological Geology Award

C. Reid Ferring
University of North Texas

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Presented to C. Reid Ferring

 Citation by Paul Goldberg and Rolfe D. Mandel

Geoarchaeology is truly an interdisci-plinary endeavor. In order to succeed and to make advances in the field, one must be at least competent in one discipline and have a working knowledge of the other. Otherwise, it is possible to generate potentially significant and important data, but not know how to integrate them.

Reid Ferring is one of those rare persons who excel in both disciplines, as the doctorates in geology and archaeology attest. Way back, in graduate school days, when he was working in the Negev Desert of southern Israel, it was evident that Reid had geoarchaeological blood in his veins. He would unleash a succession of questions about the types of sediments, the presence or not of paleosols, and the nature of past climates and environments. In those days, such questions were rarely posed by archaeologists. Perhaps it was this early mindset that prompted him to pursue a doctorate in geology a decade after completing his Ph.D. in anthropology. We often wondered why Reid would punish himself twice. It is clear to us now. He was determined to wear two hats and to wear them well.

Over the past 25 years, Reid has thrived on interdisciplinary research and collaborated with individuals in many related fields of study. His research at the Aubrey Clovis site in northeast Texas is especially worthy of recognition. It is a great example of integrating archaeological, geological, and paleoenvironmental data into a treatise that sheds new light on the peopling of the southern Great Plains. Although he is well known for his research on the archaeology, geomorphology, Quaternary geology, and paleoenvironments of the Southern Plains, one of the more remarkable aspects of Reid’s work is his global approach. Reid has enthusiastically applied his talents in the Near East, Portugal, Russia, and the Republic of Georgia. However, it is his recent geoarchaeological research at the Dmanisi Site in the Republic of Georgia, the oldest human occupation outside of Africa, that has gained him well-deserved international recognition.

Reid has long been an active participant in the Archaeological Geology Division of the GSA. He has served as Secretary-Treasurer, Vice-Chair and Chair of the Division Also, Reid has been the major driving force and supporter of the Claude Albritton Student Award. We thank him for this effort.

The Rip Rapp Award is given for outstanding contributions to the interdisciplinary field of archaeological geology. It is difficult to think of anyone more suited and qualified than Reid to receive such recognition. He is an international scholar of the highest caliber known throughout the World’s geoarchaeological community and much of its anthropological and geological community for his considerable talents and contributions. He is a first rate scholar and teacher, and an energetic promoter of the Archaeological Geology Division of GSA. Many of us should strive to be so accomplished.

  2005 Rip Rapp Archaeological Geology Award - Response by C. Reid Ferring

I am extremely grateful to have been selected this year to receive the Rip Rapp Award. I offer my sincere thanks to all of you for this extending me this honor, and especially to Paul and Rolfe for their citation. I am humbled by this award, especially in light of the outstanding accomplishments of past recipients. They and many others in this division include people I am glad to call friends, mentors, role models, colleagues, or combinations of these.

My archaeological education and training was done formally at Southern Methodist University, where I had the fortune to study with Tony Marks, Fred Wendorf, Garth Sampson, Jim Sciscenti and Vance Haynes, and to study near students including Fekri Hassan and Don Henry. In 1973, a seminar on soils, taught by Dave Pheasant, a student of Pete Birkeland, left me convinced that Karl Butzer was right: I needed to know more about geology. Fortunately, my “need geology” evolved into “want geology”, and in 1980 I enrolled in the geosciences program at the University of Texas at Dallas. There, an outstanding faculty revealed for me the fabric of geology and also taught me how to do it.

We are all indebted to the founders of this division, notably Rip Rapp, for their essential contribution to the now firmly established place of archaeological geology within the sciences. The founding of this division was followed by a second essential contribution, and that was the creation of the International Journal of Geoarchaeology by Jack Donahue. Under the tireless work of Jack and all subsequent editors, this journal has matured in partnership with our division and is now a signal venue for communicating the results of interdisciplinary research. A third essential contribution was realized from the efforts of Rolfe Mandel, who created the bridge between our division and the SAA. An astute organization man, Rolfe became the keeper of both ends of this bridge, and ensured its success by creation of the SAA-embedded partisan group known as the Geoarchaeology Interest Group.

But essential contributions are not like endowments. They are formalized commitments to sustain the discipline of archaeology geology. I am indebted with all of you to the efforts of the many people, who have over these years fulfilled that commitment. My gratitude extends well beyond that I have for the officers and other volunteers who make our meetings, scholarships and field trips happen each year. I am even more grateful to the many colleagues who have not just helped me so many times, but who have also enriched my life by their friendship.

Over the last 30 years, I’ve had the opportunity to learn more about archaeological geology as I worked on exciting problems in many places and with many colleagues. For this award, and for the collaboration and friendships I have enjoyed with you all, I am most grateful.