By Helen Hunley

NAVAIR Naval Air Weapons Station, Calif.--The State of Calif. has awarded NAVAIR Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) the prestigous Governor's Historic Preservation Award for preserving one of the largest contentrations of petroglyphs in the world.

In nominating NAWS for the award, Bill Hildebrandt, Ph.D., president of Far Western Anthropological Research Group, said, “China Lake includes one of the largest concentrations of petroglyphs in the world, a major obsidian quarry used by prehistoric peoples throughout Southern California, some of the oldest archaeological sites in California along the ancient shorelines of China Lake and a built environment that includes numerous historic mining complexes and WWII and Cold War research facilities.”

"No other base in California and probably no other U.S. base has a comparable program that takes into account its military mission within the context of historic preservation,” Hildebrandt added.

Carolyn Shepard, head of the environmental planning and management department, commented, “Over the 28 years that I have been here, the number one objective has been to preserve the resource — but preserve it in its context within the active test ranges. That presents a whole different management challenge than if we were sitting in a national park. This is recognition for balancing the two main objectives — protecting the mission of China Lake and preserving the heritage.”

Dr. David Whitley, author of two specialized books titled “Following the Shaman’s Path: A Walking Guide to Little Petroglyph Canyon” and “The Art of the Shaman: The Rock Art of California,” explained, “The Coso petroglyphs are the most important concentration of prehistoric rock art in the Americas, and among the top five concentrations in the world. Their near-pristine state of preservation is a direct result of the diligence of the environmental protection program at China Lake, and a testament to the compatibility of environmental concerns with the Navy’s mission. This Governor’s Award is very well deserved and the Commander, Carolyn Shepherd and the staff of the environmental branch warrant the congratulations of all Americans concerned with preserving our cultural heritage.”