Gypsum Blisters, Relict Dunes, and the Visibility of Paleoindian and Early Archaic Sites in the Tularosa Basin, New Mexico

The visibility and preservation of Paleoindian and Early Archaic archaeological sites in arid environments are influenced by both human activity and geomorphic processes. In the Tularosa Basin of southern New Mexico, stabilized relict gypsum dunes—once thought too ancient to preserve buried cultural materials—are now recognized as dynamic landforms with significant archaeological potential. This study examines distinctive dune surface features, locally known as “gypsum blisters,” focusing on their morphology, formation, age, and implications for site preservation. Through stratigraphic analysis, soil characterization, and radiocarbon dating, we demonstrate that these crusted surfaces could cover and preserve older, previously undetected buried sites, including those from the Pre‐Clovis, Clovis, and Early Archaic periods. Contrary to earlier assumptions of Pleistocene age, our findings show that blister formation occurred under arid Holocene conditions, suggesting surface hardening took place later in the landscape's evolutionary history, after dune stabilization. These results challenge traditional views of site visibility in gypsum landscapes, where visibility has often been defined by the ease with which sites can be detected during surface surveys. They highlight the need for updated surveys and deeper subsurface testing strategies that account for the complex soil and climatic processes governing preservation in arid gypsum environments

Arid · Gypsum · Holocene · Landform · Pleistocene · Radiocarbon dating · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology

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