Anthropology Professor Lawrence Guy Straus first became familiar with the cave El Miron in Cantabria, Spain in 1972 when he fell into one of its many holes.
He was working on his dissertation and visiting cites, when he first spotted a huge cave in the mountain.
El Miron was a cave no one knew much about, but a cave which stood out in Straus' mind.
"I kept it in my memory because it's a great archaeological site and because I fell into a trench," Straus said.
The exploration of El Miron by Straus and University of Cantabria Professor Manuel Gonzalez Morales since 1996 has landed the UNM professor in the National Geographic Magazine Spain edition for the second time.
The National Geographic article focused on the many layers of cultures uncovered by Straus and Gonzalez Morales. Photographers who helped create a replica of Altermira, one of the first caves discovered in Spain, took the pictures of the site for National Geographic.
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"The cave shows the long, layer cake sequence of the cultural development in Spain," Straus said.
They have found artifacts and cave art, which date back to the oldest time possible by carbon dating, which goes back 41,000 years to the Mousterian era. The cave art dates to the Magdalnian period, which is about 16,000 to 11,000 years ago.
Not only was the cave used many centuries ago, but it continued to be used for livestock even when Straus first spotted the cave in the 1970s.
"What we find is the garbage of the people who have been living here for thousands of years," Straus said.
In the area around El Miron many other caves exist, which are rich in ancient art. In the El Miron cave anthropologists found tools, weapons and bones. There is also cave art and engraving on the back walls that were never seen by archaeologists before.
Both Straus and Gonzalez Morales were also featured in the "Athena Review," and Straus appeared on a BBC program about the peopling of the Americas.
The National Geographic Foundation and the National Geographic Society are also key contributors to the excavation of El Miron. Other contributors include the L.S.B. Leakey Foundation, UNM and several Spanish institutions.
Since Straus began the excavation of El Miron, he has brought UNM students to the sight every summer since 1996. They join other students from around the world on a team of about 25 to research the area.
Graduate student Hannah Dodd has spent the last three summers in Spain working with an international team of students and with Straus.
"It's a great atmosphere," Dodd said. "Socializing and working together with students from all over."
Her trips were funded by grants Straus uses not only for his research, but also to be able to provide students with the chance to travel to Spain during the summer.
"It's a unique opportunity," Dodd, who is currently working on her doctorate in archaeology.
Dodd said she has a great amount of respect for Straus and his knowledge of Spain's prehistory.
"He has worked in Spain for 30 years," Dodd said. "He gives so much knowledge to the students. He has the respect of students."
She thought it was great that Straus will be featured in the Spanish edition of National Geographic.
"It's very fitting," Dodd said. "It's great that he gets some recognition."
