10/31/95
Janet McCoy (mccoyjl@mail.auburn.edu)
AU'S JOHN COTTIER HONORED BY ALABAMA HISTORICAL COMMISSION
AUBURN -- Auburn University anthropologist John Cottier has been honored by the Alabama Historical Commission with its Distinguished Service Award, one of the highest honors bestowed by the group.
Cottier, an associate professor in AU's Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and Craig Shelton, director of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at AU at Montgomery, were given the awards during the commission's annual historic preservation conference in Montgomery on Oct. 28.
Cottier and Sheldon were recognized for their work at Fusihatchee, an important early Creek Indian ceremonial and political center located between and along the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers in Elmore and Macon counties. The site was a central trading village for the area from Louisiana to Georgia.
The two professors have directed emergency excavations at the site which is threatened by a sand and gravel mining operation. With assistance from other archaeologists, volunteers and students, significant information has been salvaged from the site, including council houses, living quarters and hundreds of burials.
The work of Cottier and Sheldon has raised awareness of Fusihatchee as one of the most important native American sites of its kind in the Southeast.
Distinguished Service Awards are presented annually by the AHC to individuals and organizations for significant achievements and contributions to historic preservation. The AHC is the official state agency responsible for preserving Alabama's historic resources.
oct95:AU-cottieraward
CONTACT: Shirley Kaylor, 334/242-3184; and Cottier, 334/844-2835.