Quemado, NM, April 26, 2017  The Quemado Ranger District, Gila National Forest plans to bury the Hough Archaeological Site west of the community of Luna, NM the week of May 22, 2017.

In 1992 the New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department, and the Federal Highway Administration proposed to reconstruct U.S. Highway 180 from Luna, New Mexico to the Arizona State Line. In 1995 an archaeological survey was completed for the highway project. During the survey a large archaeological ruin was uncovered. The ruin was originally recorded and excavated by Walter Hough in 1907, and is known as the Hough Site. In 1995, the artifacts from the site were recorded and removed.

When the Hough Site was recorded, citizens in the community Luna, Catron County, and the Forest Service expressed a desire to develop, protect and interpret the site. While efforts were made to raise funds to interpret the site, the ruin was covered with a temporary galvanized tin structure to protect it from the weather. Efforts to secure funding to develop and interpret the site were not secured therefore the decision was made to bury the site in order to protect it from damage due to the elements.

To preserve this valuable archaeological resource the District will remove the tin structure and cover the ruin with soil. This work is scheduled to begin on May 22, 2017. This project is anticipated to take approximately five days and will be completed by District Archaeologists and forest personnel. Motorists driving on Highway 180 are requested to reduce their speed, as heavy equipment will be entering and exiting the Highway.

For more information regarding this project please contact Emily Irwin, Quemado District Ranger, at 575-773-4578.

For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/gila