GUMO Section 110 Two-Phase Geo-archaeological Study | P18AS00317

Opportunity Information: Apply for P18AS00317

The GUMO Section 110 Two-Phase Geo-archaeological Study is a National Park Service (Department of the Interior) cooperative agreement opportunity focused on improving archaeological and geoarchaeological knowledge within the gypsum dune systems at GUMO (Guadalupe Mountains National Park). The project, proposed by the University of New Mexico Office of Contract Archeology (OCA), is designed as a two-phase investigation that systematically documents geoarchaeological data across both active dunes (still moving) and stabilized dunes (more fixed and vegetated). A core goal is to build a structured, park-wide dataset that can be integrated directly into the park's existing GIS, using sub-meter accuracy GPS to precisely locate sites and link them to broader spatial and environmental information.

Phase I centers on field-based data collection and documentation. By recording site locations and associated geoarchaeological observations in a consistent, systematic way, the study aims to support informed interpretations about what kinds of sites are present in the dunes and when those sites were occupied. The resulting dataset is intended to be robust enough for spatial analysis, including testing whether a "Horizontal Stratigraphy Model" applies to GUMO's dune context. In practical terms, that model would suggest that different zones within the dunes may correspond to different time periods or occupation patterns, creating a landscape-level framework that archaeologists can use to interpret how human use of the dunes changed through time.

A major value of the project is its emphasis on prediction and management utility. If the model is supported by the Phase I findings, GUMO archaeologists could use defined occupation zones within the dune field to make more reliable predictions about the likely age or cultural affiliation of newly discovered sites. That kind of predictive capacity is especially helpful in dynamic dune environments where sites can be buried, exposed, or shifted over time, and where traditional excavation or stratigraphic interpretation may be difficult. By tying site patterning to dune zones and geomorphic conditions, the park can improve resource stewardship decisions, research planning, and future survey strategies.

The opportunity also highlights broader scientific contributions beyond archaeology. Because the dunes are moving landscapes, mapping where archaeological sites appear relative to the dune field's leading edge could help researchers estimate dune migration rates, either on annual scales or over much longer time spans. This turns archaeological site distributions into potential markers for understanding how the dune system has advanced or reorganized, offering insights that can complement geomorphology and sediment studies. In that sense, cultural resource data becomes part of a larger environmental history toolset.

Phase II is framed as deepening interpretation, especially around long-term environmental change and early human land use. Information developed in the second phase may help clarify connections between gypsum dune formation and late Pleistocene to early Holocene paleoclimate conditions at GUMO. This is significant because that time window overlaps with the earliest known human occupations in North America, including Paleoindian periods. By linking dune development, climate signals, and archaeological patterning, the project aims to produce a clearer picture of how the earliest occupants used the landscape, how site use evolved after Paleoindian times, and how changing environmental conditions may have shaped where and how people traveled, camped, or gathered resources in and around the dune fields.

Administratively, this was a discretionary funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P18AS00317) issued under CFDA 15.945, with eligibility limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. The anticipated award structure was a single cooperative agreement, with an award ceiling of $122,761 and an expected number of awards of 1. The opportunity was posted on June 12, 2018, with an original closing date of June 21, 2018. Overall, the grant is geared toward producing a high-quality, GIS-ready, systematically collected dataset that advances both cultural resource management needs and broader scientific understanding of dune dynamics, paleoclimate, and early human occupation in the GUMO region.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "GUMO Section 110 Two-Phase Geo-archaeological Study" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 12, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 21, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $122,761.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

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