The Laguna Plata Site Revisited: Current Testing & Analysis of New and Existing Assemblages at LA 5148, Lea County, New Mexico

This report presents the results of the documentation, limited testing at LA 5148, as well as the typological, and attribute level of analysis carried out on existing Lea County Archaeological Society (LCAS) artifact collections recovered from the site. Performed on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carlsbad Field Office, Eddy County, New Mexico, under the BLM’s Permian Basin Mitigation Program, Task Order 05 was carried out under Archaeological Resource Protection Act (ARPA) permit 45-8152-10-30 and BLM survey permit 45-2920-09-TT with the goal of providing a more comprehensive interpretative assessment of prehistoric use at LA 5148. Based on the significance of the sites reported in the vicinity, the area surrounding LA 5148 was designated a National Register Archaeological District in 1989 (NRHP #89001209)and added to the State Register in 1990 (HPD#1520). Positioned along the western margin of the Laguna Plata basin, LA 5148 is within the greater Laguna Plata Archaeological District, Lea County, New Mexico (Figure 1.1). This proposed project fulfilled the responsibilities mandated under the Task Order 4 Scope of work issued on January 26, 2010 and awarded March 3, 2010. Because of this project, cultural materials were documented and archaeological data were recovered from the site. Task Order 4 was conducted in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 36 CFR 800, and other relevant laws (ARPA permit 45-8152-10-30), regulations, standards, and guidelines and provides a critical tool in the future management of archaeological resources contained within the site. Subsequently, this information will contribute to the BLM’s Land Study and provide a valuable tool in the future management of federally owned lands in southeastern New Mexico.