While conducting a survey in the Guadalupe Mountains of southcentral New Mexico, Lincoln National Forest Archaeologists recently located the proximal portion of a Clovis projectile point. Diane White, commented "I've been doing archaeology for 20 years" and thought she would never find anything as important as a Clovis artifact. Shortly after recovering the stone point, LNF archaeologists suffered from a temporary scare as the Clovis point was discovered missing by Amanda Sanchez. It turns out that one of the staff members had set the artifact next to the office candy dish, where it was picked up by another conscientious archaeologist, and locked up for safekeeping.
The Clovis point fragment is made of tan chert. It measures 2.5cm in length, 2cm wide, and .5cm in width just above the flute. There is a distinct flute on one side, and what appears to be a partial flute on the obverse. The point was broken ~3mm beyond the full flute. There appears to be at least two separate breaks, one of which is hinged.
Archaeologists are yet unsure of the total significance of this recent find. The site appears large and boundaries have not been completely identified. At least one archaeologist, forest service SCEP and Graduate student at New Mexico State University, Agnes Castronuevo hopes to find more associated with the site, perhaps even mammoth bones! "Blackwater Draw anyone?"
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