Description
Near the Abiquiu Reservoir, amateur archaeological enthusiast Gary Hartley discovered an exposed bone that was later identified as part of a mammoth skeleton. A fragment of a Clovis point was also found in close proximity, suggesting the site may represent a rare 13,000-year-old Paleoindian hunting kill. Notably, the location—on a steep hillside—is highly unusual for such a find. Les McFadden speaks on subsequent excavations, geomorphological analyses, and radiocarbon dating that has led to differing and often controversial interpretations of the site’s significance.
Les McFadden is a professor emeritus in the UNM Earth & Planetary Sciences (E&PS) Department. He received an MS & PhD in geosciences from the University of Arizona and a BA in anthropology from Stanford. He served as chair of the E&PS Department. He has received the Kirk Bryan Award for Excellence.