Over the past 50 years, more people than I am capable of acknowledging have contributed to this work. Many students have studied portions of faunas for theses and special problems—that many of these were never published was due to the limitations of comparative materials and other factors that meant the research wasn't quite to a publishable stage; within these limitations, however, the research was sound and the results useful. All deserve and have my thanks, and I probably learned as much from them as they from me.
Many of these same students attended one or both of the field schools at Dry Cave, cheap labor, but good company, and hopefully they remember those times fondly. Rick Smartt attended both field schools and acted as field manager for the second. He was the first to draw attention to the Animal Fair deposits and was responsible for my losing part of my shirt and a little skin by leading me through a "slightly tight" squeeze into Rick's Cenote. Lauri Lear was the ultimate "trooper" during the 10 days in the field excavating in Big Manhole Cave.
The majority of Pleistocene fossils in the UTEP Biodiversity Collections Paleobiology Section originated from lands cared for by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. However, material from two major sites (Isleta No. 1 and Isleta No. 2) has ended up in the Paleobiology Collections by transfers from other institutions, and I wish to acknowledge the Pueblo of Isleta for having giving the original permission for excavations on their lands.
Among the various governmental types that have aided over the years, Jim Goodbar of the Carlsbad Bureau of Land Management Office certainly has gone beyond the call of duty in helping to increase our knowledge of the past in the Guadalupe Mountains region. The Heard brothers allowed access to U-Bar Cave over a number of years and supplied sleeping quarters at times. Their hospitality and knowledge of the area is greatly appreciated. A special thanks is due George Jefferson, who volunteered the use of his updated checklist of Californian Pleistocene fossils, without which my treatment of the California records would be seriously lacking.
Numerous institutions have lent comparative materials through the last 46 or so years. Much of the research in Quaternary paleontology would be far more problematical were it not for the extensive good will of collection managers everywhere.
The National Geographic Society has supplied funds for much of the UTEP field work; I have hopes that it considers the money well spent.
Last update: 4 Jun 2015