Congratulations to the Redemptorist Society of Arizona, which will receive the 2023 Keepers of the Gate Award from the American Rock Art Research Association (ARARA). This national association is dedicated to rock art preservation, research and education to communicate to a broad audience the significance of rock art as a nonrenewable resource of enduring cultural value and an important expression of our shared cultural heritage.
The Keepers of the Gate Award recognizes private landowners who have protected rock art on their property or which require access through their property.
Dr. Aaron Wright, a preservation anthropologist with Archaeology Southwest, and Allen Dart, executive director of the Old Pueblo Archaeology Center, collaborated to nominate the Redemptorists for this prestigious award.
“The Redemptorist Society of Arizona deserves the recognition and thanks of rock art researchers, archaeologists, historic preservation advocates, Native Americans, and the general public for their efforts to preserve and protect petroglyphs and other significant cultural resources on its Redemptorist Renewal Center property in Pima County, and for its efforts to educate the public and add to scientific knowledge about these heritage resources,” Allen said.
The Keepers of the Gate Award will be presented at the ARARA annual conference banquet and awards presentations in Tucson on March 12.