ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (KRQE) – An ancient campsite, buried two meters underground, is being unearthed in southern New Mexico. Scientists and the 49th Civil Engineer Squadron are working to uncover the site.
“Found on the site were approximately 70 items, ranging from flake stones to a rare example of an early ground stone, providing valuable clues about past human activities,” Matthew Cuba, the 49th Civil Engineer Squadron resource manager, said in a press release. “We also uncovered a series of hearths, or community campsites, with remnants of mesquite charcoal which is a tremendous find in and of itself.”
The site, “Gomolak Overlook,” seems to have been used over 8,000 years ago, the Air Force says. It was discovered by chance when researchers from the University of Arizona saw an artifact sticking out of a roadcut, Cuba says. Radiocarbon dating showed the site dates to about 8,200 years ago.
“The formation of the white sand dunes inadvertently buried the site, with windblown silt protecting the delicate archaeological remains,” Cuba said. “This site marks a pivotal moment in shedding light on the area’s history and its early inhabitants.”
“Found on the site were approximately 70 items, ranging from flake stones to a rare example of an early ground stone, providing valuable clues about past human activities,” Cuba added. “We also uncovered a series of hearths, or community campsites, with remnants of mesquite charcoal which is a tremendous find in and of itself.”
The site does not represent the oldest evidence of people in New Mexico, but the newly discovered site does give a view into an important moment of history when the Pleistocene ended and the Holocene began, Cuba explained. At the time, the climate and environment were changing – and people were reacting.
The Air Force says 400 archaeological discoveries have been found around the Holloman Air Force Base. As they work to continue exploring this latest discovery, the Air Force says they will be careful to preserve the site, working with the state’s historic preservation officer. Ultimately the artifacts will be moved to a curation facility in Fort Bliss, Texas where they will be available for researchers, Cuba adds.
