HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AP) — An archaeological site that might shed more light on New Mexico’s ancient history has been discovered recently within the boundaries of Holloman Air Force Base.
Base officials said geomorphologists and members of the 49th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental flight uncovered a campsite in early March that’s about 8,200 years old and belonged to some of the state’s first settlers.
Matthew Cuba, the squadron’s cultural resource manager, said the formation of white sand dunes inadvertently buried the site with windblown silt protecting the archaeological remains.
“This site marks a pivotal moment in shedding light on the area’s history and its early inhabitants,” Cuba said.
He said digs at the site have turned up about 70 items ranging from flake stones to a rare example of an early ground stone.
“We also uncovered a series of hearths, or community campsites, with remnants of mesquite charcoal, which is a tremendous find in and of itself,” Cuba said.
He said the site is one of 400 archaeological discoveries found within the boundaries of Holloman, which was built in 1942 and is located 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) southwest of Alamogordo in south-central New Mexico.
Elon Musk gets approval from FDA to implant his Neuralink brain chip into a second patient
Atlético survive late Dortmund rally to hold on for win
China Focus: Undergraduate Education Empowers Housekeepers with Better Career Prospects
Pentagon vows to keep weapons moving to Ukraine as Kyiv faces a renewed assault by Russia
Peng Yan Leads Team in Developing USVs
Seedling Breeder Helps Farmers Attain Wealth by Developing Vegetable Cooperative
Rural Entrepreneur Helps Farmers Live Better Lives
Why US Catholics are planning pilgrimages in communities across the nation
Village Official Promotes Rural Residents' Well