A Resurgence of Pothunting and Bulldozing Mimbres Sites on Private and Federal Lands in Southwestern New Mexico

Much to the dismay of the archaeological community, a resurgence of pothunting is occurring across southwestern New Mexico on private and federal lands. The scale of pothunting ranges from shovel probes to bulldozing. Federal and state laws enacted since 1989 served to slow pothunting, especially the destruction caused by bulldozers, but the pendulum is now swinging back towards increased activity. Recent examples of these activities will be discussed and possible reasons for this resurgence will be offered, including escalating prices for Mimbres pottery, a lack of publicity about the pothunting problem, and a lack of communication between archaeologists and private landowners.