Born in Texas just prior to the Civil War, George McJunkin found his stride as a cowboy in the west, eventually settling in and around Folsom in the Territory of New Mexico. A self made man who taught himself to read and write in both Spanish and English, numerous musical instruments, ultimately became one of the most important amateur archaeologists of New Mexico after his discovery of the Folsom Point inside a washed out arroyo just outside of Folsom, New Mexico, after a massive flood on August 27, 1908.
George’s discovery changed the thought process of archeology at the time as it was not previously believed that humans had inhabited North America from about 9000 BCE. Subsequent to McJunkin’s discovery, the discovery of the Clovis Points in Eastern New Mexico determined that humans were in North America at least 10,000 BCE.
Mr. McJunkin died on January 21, 1922, and is buried in the cemetery at Folsom, New Mexico.
