Take that, Sami Salo.
Well I am going into the field on Sunday so this blog will be taking a break soon. Before that happens I might as well strut and prance around a bit and let my eleventeen readers know that (apparently) this blog was awarded the Canadian Archaeological Association‘s annual award for Public Communication (Professional/Institutional Division):
Since 1985, the Canadian Archaeological Association (CAA) has presented annual awards to acknowledge outstanding contributions in communication that further insight and appreciation of Canadian Archaeology. These awards recognise contributions by journalists, film producers, professional archaeologists and institutions and are adjudicated by a committee composed of a regional representation of CAA members.
I say “apparently” because I haven’t heard from them yet (unless they naively left a voice-mail: I check that once a year, whether anyone has left a message or not) but several people have told me it was announced at the recent annual conference in Calgary. So I’ll risk a Dewey beats Truman moment – it might be the only one I get!
The origin of this website was a panel discussion here in Victoria organized by the Archaeological Society of B.C. One of the main topics of concern expressed there was a lack of public knowledge and public appreciation of the archaeological record of B.C. and I set this blog up to contribute a small piece to solving that problem. It’s a relatively easy thing for me to do, as I have both a privileged, secure job and a rare collection of single malts, both of which make expression of opinion much easier. Much more is needed of course.
Obviously it is an honour to get a national award like this, even if a lot of the content stems from 2010, not 2009 as per the rules). I think the key part of the blog as it has developed is the readers, especially those who jump in to make comments. People love comments and click on them like mad. Comments attract more readers. More readers means more public education. So keep the comments coming – it adds interest and multiple points of view and in a real sense makes this a group enterprise. It’s really a kind of team award I figure – a thanks for reading, you could say, as much as a thanks for writing. And so, thanks to the CAA and the selection committee! I think I get a plaque or something – no cash, so it will continue to be impossible to get me to buy a round unless I haul my mattress to the pub.
Candid photo of qmackie in a relaxed moment.
P.S. If you do leave a comment your email and identity remains completely confidential and you are only known to the internet by the name you enter.
Northwest Coast Archaeology 
Wow, thats great! Congratulations! You forgot to say if you prefer Speyside, Campbelltown or Islay.
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Congratulations – Well deserved! I’ve certainly learned a lot from your site and appreciate your effort. I’m on the opposite side of the continent and feel more current on BC archaeology than any other region because of your daily updates.
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Well done Q!
This is a great blog, and definitely deserving of the award. I have sent links to your page to almost everyone I know (so they have some idea of what I do for a living!) And it has sparked many conversations around the office.
Remind me to buy you a single malt the next time I’m in town. I’d like to see you and TwoEyes doing a taste-test!
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Far out, Q! You deserve it. Sure, I’ll have a scotch, double, splash of water.
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I’ll join the chorus of congratulations! I’m a total amateur in this field, but I live in the area and love what I’m learning about the people who lived here. I also sometimes share it with family and friends, so you’re even more well known that you might suspect. Send me an email if you’re in Bellingham and we’ll buy you an American handcrafted locally brewed organic artisan beer.
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OK – thanks everyone, but the “much more is needed” referred to the Public Education, not the scotch. I mean, I don’t actually drink the stuff, I admire the distinctive bottles as material expressions of micro-ethnicity in a complex archipelago of highland, lowland and island peoples and its associated diaspora.
Tim — now that you mention it, between your blog and mine, Central Canada* really is letting us down. Wake up guys! I am sure there is seal arse-eology going on in Toronto somewhere.
Mad D0g — you need a slur cure? Again?
*Banff to Antigonish
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Congrats, Quentin. I particularly like the way your tie color-coordinates with the bullion.
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Great news Q. Congratulations. I think we all have copied a link to this site to other people. And so it grows.
Very admirable bottles indeed, for a small archipelago. Ideal spot for colonisation. Who was it that said “the demographic costs of single malt can only be overcome by high population participation and consequent immobility”
Sounds like the CAA dishes out the silent treatment to people that don’t show up at the Annual Conference, so let that lesson be learned public educators – if you might be in the running for an award and want to know about it, better get your arse to the conference banquet 😉
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BTW, the obvious choice of scotch to accompany this award would be Bruichladdich which translates as “raised beach”, a common topic for the blog.
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Congrats Q, you need to rethink your anathema of conferences! (not sure of the grammar or usage, but its a good word nonetheless!)
Bruichladdich: as the old lady in the car rental ad says “Sounds Expensive!” Perhaps my meager budget will stetch to a microbrew sometime!
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Morley, surely it is a business expense of some kind – “hospitality”. But it looks like I might be switching to organic American microbrews anyway so I will take you up on that firm commitment to buy a round.
APM – I’ll have to look and see where that lies withing the multivariate cluster analysis of Single Malt scotch here:
http://www.whiskyclassified.com/classification.html
Find the cheapest one which clusters closest to the one you like!
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Love those Single Malt drinkers – they have their heads screwed on really tight.
Bruichladdich is in Cluster I, which also includes Bowmore, which I have a bottle of at the moment – feel free to drop by and try it. I much prefer Cluster J which includes the likes of Talisker and Lagavulin. You should like Lagavuliin since it includes that exotic word “Mackie” on the label. It might in fact be a better choice than Bruichladdich in these particular celebratory circumstances.
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Ah, what an informative site. Cluster H works for me, most days. A cure, for sure. A multidimensional scaling analysis, though, would make apparent the importance of the inclement weather and desperation factors against the admittedly more highly dependent taste and cost ones.
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Whatever I can get as off sales at Howlers will be what I have….
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The award and the scotch are well deserved!
Congrats!
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Q, while in Charlotte, give my regards to Tommy.
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Thanks Dan!
Bluesboy — I’ll pass on your greetings. I’m looking forward to hearing again Tommy’s epic tale of four men, three bunks, and a propane sniffer!
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It is with pleasure that I confirm that this blog, “Northwest Coast Archaeology” has been awarded the Canadina Archaeological Association’s 2010 Pulic Communications Award in the Professional/Institutional category. This is the first time a blog has been nominated and the CAA is pleased to acknowledge the important contribution this new and exciting medium can play in fostering knowledge and dialogue in Canadian archaeology. The selection committee’s comments:
“This heavily visited site has been increasing in readership by 10%-20% per week and is presently receiving between 500 to 1000 hits per day. Northwest Coast Archaeology is now the first site listed on a Google search of that title. Designed to increase public knowledge about, and appreciation of, Northwest Coast Archaeology, Dr. Mackie’s blog is engaging, visually attractive and easy to read. Clear, simple, and straightforward, “Northwest Coast Archaeology” offers many sources of data, images, discoveries and current archaeological issues to engage readers. Quentin Mackie’s work demonstrates the importance of the use of blogs within the realm of public archaeology to reach the broader public and enhance accessibility to archaeological discoveries while creating a forum for discussion. Dr. Mackie also includes a link to archaeological theses and dissertations providing an invaluable research resource.”
It is important to the CAA that efforts at plublic communication in Canadian archaeology be recognized and applauded. If readers of this blog are aware of websites, books, films, magazine articles, etc. that they feel are worthy of recognition, please forward information to the CAA (see: http://www.canadianarchaeology.com/caa/about/awards/public-communications-awards).
Once again, congratulations Quentin, and thank you for your outstanding contribution to Canadian archaeology.
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