Lubbock, Texas, is often stereotyped as a flat and windy city, but its history is far more fascinating. The city is home to the Lubbock Lake Landmark, a significant archaeological site that has uncovered the remains of ancient mammoths, horses, camels, and giant short-faced bears.

Ancient History

Human activity at Lubbock Lake Landmark stretches back nearly 12,000 years, making it one of the most important archaeological sites in North America. The site has also produced the first radiocarbon date ever obtained from Paleo-Indian material, a huge deal in the archaeological world.

The ‘lake’ part of Lubbock Lake Landmark disappeared decades ago when the springs that fed it dried up in the 1930s. Today, there is very little standing water at the site. Despite this, archaeologists are still digging up new discoveries in Lubbock, with the site considered an active research area.

Accidental Discovery

The most important archaeological discovery at Lubbock Lake Landmark was found by accident in 1936. The City of Lubbock was trying to improve its water supply by dredging around some ancient springs, but instead, they uncovered the artifacts that led to the site’s discovery.

Lubbock’s history is not just about ancient animals and humans; it also features an ancient river valley that runs through the city. Yellow House Draw is an ancient watercourse that shaped the region and provided water for settlers. Most of modern Lubbock is situated around this ancient landscape feature.

Original reporting: News/Talk 790 KFYO (Lubbock) — read the source article.