Important Mimbres Find

Looting matters.  I'm very happy the woman who found this artifact not only marked the spot of the find, she also turned it into the forest rangers, who were then able to investigate and arrange for further archaeological exploration.  Thank you, Elizabeth Grover, and thank Goddess, there are still honest, good-hearted people in the world.  The Mimbres Culture existed in a relatively small area of the state of New Mexico (USA) between approximately the 1st to 12th centuries CE (100 - 1150).

From the Silver City Sun News
Woman finds Mimbres pot during walk in Gila National Forest
Sun News Report
Posted: 09/09/2010 12:09:36 AM MDT

MIMBRES - During a morning walk in the Gila National Forest last week, Elizabeth Grover, a resident of Lake Roberts, discovered what looked to her like a geode in the bank of an arroyo. It turned out to be a small clay Mimbres pot with unusual red markings on the rim.

Grover marked the spot where she found it with a stake and called the Wilderness Ranger Station in Mimbres to report her find.

Chris Adams, zone archaeologist for the Wilderness and Black Range Ranger Districts of the Gila National Forest, was contacted and made arrangements to meet with Grover to look at the location where the pot was found. This information is valuable in order to gain further knowledge about the history of this area that is so rich in culture, forest officials said.

"I'm so glad that Mrs. Grover did the right thing and told us about this incredible find. Now the public can enjoy seeing and learning more about the archeology of the area." said Al Koss, district ranger of the Wilderness Ranger District.

"This is what I thought I was supposed to do," Grover said after being thanked for turning the historic clay pot in to the Forest Service and not illegally keeping it for a private collection.

When artifacts are stolen and archaeological cultural sites are destroyed, important clues about the past are lost forever. Strict laws protect artifacts and sites on federal, state and Indian lands. The right thing to do is report any artifacts or cultural sites to local law enforcement or land management agency.

The National Forest Heritage Strategy, developed to protect significant heritage resources that are at risk, says, "These historic finds hold clues to past ecosystems, add richness and depth to our landscapes, provide links to living traditions, and help transform a beautiful walk in the woods into an unforgettable encounter with history."