George McJunkin
Encyclopedia
George McJunkin was the African American
cowboy
in New Mexico
who discovered the Folsom Site
in 1908.
The son of slaves who was born in Midway, Texas
, McJunkin was about 14 years old when the Civil War ended. He worked as an oxen driver, working on freighters. He reportedly learned how to read from fellow cow punchers. McJunkin taught himself to read, write, speak Spanish, play the fiddle and guitar, eventually becoming an amateur archaeologist and historian. In 1868, McJunkin arrived in New Mexico
, and became a foreman on the Thomas Owens Pitchford Ranch. Later in his life McJunkin was a buffalo
hunter, and eventually worked for several ranches in Colorado
, New Mexico and Texas. He was also reported to be an expert bronc rider and one of the best ropers in the United States
. The importance of McJunkin historically is the discovey of the Folsom site. One day when patching fence on the ranch where he worked and riding perimeter, he noticed a small canyon. he went down inside and discovered a giant prehistoric bison, now contained in the Smithsonian. between the ribs of the bison was a distinctive type of human-manufactured stone tool now called a Folsom point.
McJunkin recognized the significance of this discovery and let the site undisturbed and alerted archaeologists to what he had found. As it is known that giant Bison of the type that McJunkin discovered had gone extinct at the end of the last Ice Age, the antiquity of Native Americans in North America was established.
When he died in 1922, McJunkin was buried at the Folsom Cemetery in Folsom, New Mexico
.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
who discovered the Folsom Site
Folsom Site
Folsom Site , in Folsom, New Mexico, is the archaeological site that is the type site for the Folsom tradition, a Paleo-Indian cultural sequence dating to between 9000 BC and 8000 BC...
in 1908.
The son of slaves who was born in Midway, Texas
Midway, Texas
Midway is a city in Madison County, Texas, United States. at the junction of the La Bahía Road and the Old San Antonio Road in northeastern Madison County.-Geography:Midway is located at ....
, McJunkin was about 14 years old when the Civil War ended. He worked as an oxen driver, working on freighters. He reportedly learned how to read from fellow cow punchers. McJunkin taught himself to read, write, speak Spanish, play the fiddle and guitar, eventually becoming an amateur archaeologist and historian. In 1868, McJunkin arrived in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and became a foreman on the Thomas Owens Pitchford Ranch. Later in his life McJunkin was a buffalo
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
hunter, and eventually worked for several ranches in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, New Mexico and Texas. He was also reported to be an expert bronc rider and one of the best ropers in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The importance of McJunkin historically is the discovey of the Folsom site. One day when patching fence on the ranch where he worked and riding perimeter, he noticed a small canyon. he went down inside and discovered a giant prehistoric bison, now contained in the Smithsonian. between the ribs of the bison was a distinctive type of human-manufactured stone tool now called a Folsom point.
Folsom point
Folsom points are a distinct form of chipped stone projectile points associated with the Folsom Tradition of North America. The style of toolmaking was named after Folsom, New Mexico where the first sample was found within the bone structure of a bison in 1927....
McJunkin recognized the significance of this discovery and let the site undisturbed and alerted archaeologists to what he had found. As it is known that giant Bison of the type that McJunkin discovered had gone extinct at the end of the last Ice Age, the antiquity of Native Americans in North America was established.
When he died in 1922, McJunkin was buried at the Folsom Cemetery in Folsom, New Mexico
Folsom, New Mexico
Folsom is a village in Union County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 75 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Frances Folsom, the fiancee of President Grover Cleveland.-Geography:Folsom is located at ....
.