The Castleton Award

This award is for excellence in an original essay, video, or audio presentation in rock art research. It does not restrict the subject matter, scope, or the nature of the report / research, or any other factor other than excellence in rock art studies.

Eligibility extends to any individual who is doing rock art research, including ARARA members or non-members. The location of the study may be anywhere in the world.

Consideration will be given to work that exhibits originality and thoroughness of investigative work in rock art research. Essays which have been previously published, either in their entirety or in substantial part, are not eligible for this award.

Though nominees do not need to be ARARA members, they are encouraged to present their material at the next ARARA conference and/or submit an essay to American Indian Rock Art should they receive the award.

Interested candidates must submit their application to the ARARA Awards Committee by February 28th, 2026 to the following email address: araraawards@gmail.com with the subject: Castleton Award_Last name Only applications sent through the official channel will be considered for the award. In a single email the candidate must include a copy of the essay, video, or audio presentation, as well as a letter of introduction summarizing the nominee's previous work in rock art both for the submission and other rock art related work. A template with suggestions for a successful nomination can be found here: Castleton Nomination Template

The recipient of the award will receive $1000 and a certificate at the ARARA conference.

Past recipients include (award not given in years not listed):

• 1983: Paul Faulstich Spirits on the Rock: Symbol and Structure in North Queensland, Australia, Rock Paintings.

• 1985: Judith S. and Jesse E. Warner To Slay a Dragon.

• 1988: William Breen Murray Antlers and Counting in Northeast Mexican Rock Art. Special Recognition: Mary K. Allen New Frontiers in Rock Art: The Grand Canyon.

• 1991: Ronald I. Dorn Paleoenvironmental Signals in Rock Varnish on Petroglyphs.

• 1996: Marian Hyman and Marvin Rowe Plasma-Chemical Extraction and AMS Radiocarbon Dating of Pictographs

• 2002: Leigh Marymor Rock Art Studies: A Bibliographic Database

• 2003: Reinaldo Morales, Jr. Nordeste Rock Art and the Ekwimyatipa

• 2008: David and Charlotte Lee Finding Yidumduma

• 2015: Chloe Berghausen The Writing on the Walls: Neolithic Rock Art at the Ness of Brodgar

• 2017: Margaret Berrier (Marglyph) Looking at an Old Dog With New Tricks: Review and Documentation of Jaguar Cave, A Unique Painted Shelter in West Texas

• 2024: Salisu Aminu Musa: Ancient R ock Art of Northern Nigeria

• 2025: Aaron Wright and John R. Welch: "A mark by any Other Name..."