Settlement at the Burro Tanks site spanned from the Paleoindian period to the Late Formative period, making this one of the longest occupied sites in southeastern New Mexico. During the early years, nomadic peoples camped near the lake, likely taking advantage of the abundant water. Then, from A.D. 1100-1400 populations grew and people settled at the lake for longer periods, possibly year round. The extensive occupation of Burro Tanks has inevitably led to a rich archaeological record and many cultural ties for Mescalero descendants. Sadly a great amount of looting has damaged the site and has irreversibly changed what we might learn from the ancestors who lived here.