Preliminary Survey of a Paleocene Faunule from the Angels Peak Area, New Mexico

Nestled on the eastern rim of the San Juan Basin, Angels Peak rises above a rugged badlands landscape that has long attracted geologists and paleontologists. Early expeditions in the 1910s and 1920s uncovered a scattered handful of mammal bones, hinting at a richer, older ecosystem preserved within the Nacimiento formation. A 1948 field party from the University of Kansas returned to the site and uncovered a concentrated pocket of roughly 150 well‑preserved specimens, sparking a fresh look at this Paleocene window.

The assemblage includes representatives of early multituberculates, primitive carnivores, and even a possible new primate species, offering a snapshot of mammalian diversification shortly after the dinosaurs’ demise. Because the bones are embedded in a thin, reddish silt layer and appear in scattered pockets, researchers emphasize the need for careful excavation before a full taxonomic account can be completed. Listeners will hear how these initial findings shape our understanding of early Cenozoic life while hinting at the many discoveries that still lie beneath the surface.