A Cowboy Archaeologist? George McJunkin made a huge discovery.

George McJunkin was a top hand, running some of the largest cattle outfits in New Mexico and Texas during the post-Civil War years.  He had a run-in with Ketchum Gang and notable other exploits.

But one of the most important came in 1908.  After a flood near Folsom, NM, George was doing some work when he came across bones of ancient bison, killed by humans.  McJunkin recognized them as special.  Eventually, archaeologists became interested in the Folsom Site, which proved that humans had inhabited the area well before previous estimates.