Alluvial Sites of Central New Mexico

Abstract

In the upper Rio Grande valley, presence of the Sandia and Folsom cultures,1 has accentuated two important archaeological problems: that of bridging the gap, no matter how long or short, between the approximate 25,000 year date given for the Sandia Culture and the subsequent period of Folsom occupation;2 and that of reconstructing some sort of chronology between the Folsom period and the generalized Basketmaker era. The latter perhaps involves an 8,000--10,000 year chronological blank in central New Mexico. Several factors may aid in building up the chronological stability highlighted by these problems: (1) deposits of geologic significance in relation to time and events, (2) animal remains in relation to dating geologic deposits, (3) and culture remains in association with animal remains or alone in geologic deposits. It is in hope of adding an iota of material toward an eventual solution of these problems that the following resume of part of the earlier work, and the citation of new material, is presented. In 1938 Bryan and Butler found campsites on the Arroyo de Cordito, six miles south of Tres Piedras, New Mexico, and on a terrace on the west side of the Rio San Antonio, about one mile northwest of the base of San Antonio Mountain. The artifacts found were scrapers, knives and points. The conclusion was advanced that a group having a plains type of culture was present in this region.3 On the Rito de los Encinos, near Youngsville, New Mexico, a tributary of the Rio Puerco which in turn joins the Chama, Bryan found early, intermediate and late alluvium. In the late alluvium appeared hearths and many flint chips.4 In the intermediate alluvium an ax, two choppers, and a scraper were found. This Bryan has named the Los Encinos Culture.5 In the older alluvium, preceding the intermediate alluvium, Bryan found remains of a proboscidian.6 In 1940 a group of surface and buried hearths were found by the writer at Coyote Springs, nine miles southeast of Albuquerque. The