Commission will honor Dr Stanley Bond

The person who helped author the ordinance that protects St Augustine’s rich archaeological history will be honored by the City Commission on January 28th, according to an announcement received by Historic City News from Public Affairs Director Paul Williamson today.

Dr. Stanley Bond will become the 31st recipient of the de Avilés Award during a brief presentation at the beginning of the commission’s meeting set to start at 5:00 p.m.

A renowned archaeologist, Bond, who is today the Chief Archaeologist for the National Park Service and Departmental Consulting Archaeologist for the Department of the Interior, devoted much of his early career to conducting archaeological surveys and excavations in St Augustine and St Johns County for the Historic St Augustine Preservation Board.

Bond’s projects included work on St George Street utility excavations, the Riberia Gardens site, and the Puente site; while county projects included the St Johns County archaeological survey and excavations at the Crescent Beach, North Beach, and Sabate Plantation sites.

Bond was also instrumental in drafting the city’s original archaeology ordinance, one of the country’s most comprehensive. The ordinance requires that archaeological investigations be conducted on public and private properties before and during ground-penetrating construction activities. It applies to projects that occur within an archaeological zone and that exceed more than 100 sq. ft. in area and more than three inches in depth.

Since the adoption of the ordinance a quarter of a century ago, more than 650 archaeological projects have occurred, resulting in the documentation of 10,000 years of human history in the area that is today St Augustine. In order to develop a cadre of citizen scientists to assist with archaeological projects in St Augustine, Bond was a founding member and first president of the St Augustine Archaeological Association. It is largely for Dr. Bond’s leadership in the creation of the archaeological ordinance that led to his being presented with the de Avilés Award.

The presentation will be at the beginning of St Augustine City Commission’s regular meeting which begins at 5:00pm in The Alcazar Room, City Hall, 75 King Street. The public is invited, although seating is limited. The meeting, including the presentation, will be televised live via GTV, Comcast Channel 3.