George McJunkin

George McJunkin (c. 1856–1922) was an African-American cowboy, amateur archaeologist and historian. McJunkin discovered the Folsom site in New Mexico in 1908.

Biography

Born to slaves in Midway, Texas, McJunkin was approximately nine years old when the Civil War ended. He worked as a cowboy for freighters. He reportedly learned how to read from fellow cow punchers. McJunkin taught himself to read, write, speak Spanish, play the fiddle and guitar, eventually becoming an amateur archaeologist and historian. In 1868, McJunkin arrived in New Mexico and became a foreman on the Thomas Owens Pitchfork Ranch. McJunkin became a buffalo hunter and worked for several ranches in Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. He was also reported to be an expert bronc rider and one of the best ropers in the United States. He became foreman of the Crowfoot ranch near Folsom, New Mexico. In 2019, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Discovery of Folsom site After the flood of August 27, 1908 which killed 18 people in Folsom, McJunkin assessed damage at the Crowfoot Ranch. McJunkin's discovery of the Folsom site changed New World archaeology, as it showed that people had inhabited North America since at least 9000 BCE, some 7000 years earlier than previously thought. McJunkin was buried at the Folsom Cemetery in Folsom, New Mexico.