The Occurrence of Flints and Extinct Animals in Pluvial Deposits near Clovis, New Mexico. Part III: Geology and Vertebrate Paleontology of the Late Quaternary near Clovis, New Mexico

Abstract

At the suggestion of Dr. John C. Merriam and with the support of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, a field party from the California Institute of Technology co6perated with Dr. Edgar B. Howard in the investigation of late Quaternary sediments containing artifacts and remains of extinct mammals near Clovis, New Mexico. Field work was conducted in this region during the summer of 1933. The primary purposes of the present study were to locate accurately the occurrences of remains of mammals with reference to the position of artifacts and other evidences of the presence of early Man in the deposits, to identify the kinds of mammals represented, to determine the nature of the deposits themselves, and to establish, if possible, the conditions under which sediments and organic record accumulated. During the progress of this work in the field, critical localities were examined, and the problem of early Man in this region was discussed by members of the XVI International Geological Congress including Sir Arthur Smith Woodward and Lady Woodward, Dr. Victor Van Straelen, and Dr. John C. Merriam. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the expressions of opinion rendered by members of this group during and after examination of the field evidence.