By Kara Reedy —
The National Park Talk Series, presented by Dr. Tammie Gerke and the Gardner-Harvey Library on the Miami Middletown campus, has been following a different path this semester. Dr. Gerke decided to focus on her second passion aside from geology, which is archaeology. For the Spring 2023 semester, Dr. Gerke will be discussing the relationship between archaeology and National Parks. For the second lecture in the series, she chose to present a lecture on Mesa Verde National Park, which was established in 1906 as a National Park and as a World Heritage Site in 1978. The park is known for its rich history and archaeology.
Many different groups lived in the area, beginning with the people known as the Basketmakers, who are considered the first Pueblo community to populate Mesa Verde from 550 to 750 C.E. You might be able to guess what they were known for by taking a quick peek at their name. Their stunning baskets have been found in archaeological excavations, and many of their descendants continue the art form. The Pueblo population grew over the centuries, with many different communities living in various places in the park until around 1300 C.E.
Mesa Verde became deserted around the year 1300, and archaeologists aren’t entirely sure why. There are many theories about why the Pueblo people left, with some saying that it was due to climate change, while others believe that relocation might’ve taken place due to resource depletion.
Dr. Gerke mainly decided to focus on Mesa Verde National Park due to the park’s reputation for its impressive archaeological sites. Close to five thousand sites exist in the park, six hundred of which are the famous cliff dwellings for which the park is known. These sites were actively excavated up until 1960, when those who maintained the park decided to focus on preserving the park rather than dissecting it.
The cliff dwellings are regularly visited and are especially unique because they are some of the best preserved in the nation. The archaeological sites are located in two different sections of the park, which are two mesas called Wetherill and Chapin. Some of the most well-known cliff dwellings are Balcony House, Cliff Palace, Square House, and Spruce Tree, the last of which is sadly no longer available to tour due to its current instability. On the other side of the park are the Step House and Long House. All of these cliff dwellings were lived in and used as centers for communities, being constructed between the late 1190s and the 1270s. These cliff dwellings typically had anywhere from one to five rooms, with a few having as many as 150 rooms. Perhaps most intriguing is that these structures were occupied by people for only a short amount of time, as the area would become abandoned around 1300.
Mesa Verde is known for its cliff dwellings, but they aren’t the only archaeological features in the park. The cliff dwellings were preceded by several other creations, many of which can still be visited. Pithouses were the first structures to be built and were mound-like homes that would be situated in clusters. Later on, the development of single-story and multi-story Pueblos came about, usually popping up around the pithouses, with the former being implemented first in 750 C.E. and the latter in 1000 C.E. These homes were occupied by many generations of Pueblo up until some decided to move lower. The reason for the move isn’t known as much of what is known is only slightly understood, especially in regards to the cliff dwellings.
Our understanding of the archaeological sites in Mesa Verde is largely thanks to architectural analysis and corroboration with descendants from the Indigenous peoples who originally inhabited the area. Only 230 of the 600 cliff dwellings have been analyzed, as it takes a considerable amount of time to investigate the structures. Aside from needing to take care while assessing these locations, archaeologists also have a long way to travel to even get to the houses. Maneuvering around the park as a visitor and ranger is accomplished by climbing ladders when available and scaling rock faces when not. In fact, there are foot and finger holes carved into rock faces leading up to the dwellings that date back to their development which can still be used to go from one area to the next, though ladders are usually used with tourists.
Rock climbing and taking in the scenery of the cliffs and homes aren’t the only things to do in the park. Lush vegetation can be found in many spots that most wouldn’t immediately expect to see out in the desert region of Colorado. There are a few water deposits scattered throughout the park that are filled with fossilized clams, snails, and even other aquatic finds. You can even find some fossilized plants. The most popular deposits are the Mancos Shale, Point Lookout Sandstone, and the Menefee Formation. There are other developed areas in the park that date back to the time when Mesa Verde was populated prior to 1300, but some have been dealt harm by one of the biggest enemies of our National Parks: wildfires.
Wildfires in the region have been both a blessing and a curse. There have been five major fires in the last fourteen years that have damaged a few sites, particularly those that exhibit rock formations. The fires, which are devastating in one way, also uncover new sites and artifacts. Investigations of the park following fires regularly turn up new findings. The National Park Service has accounted for 682 sites that were uncovered after wildfires blazed through the location.
The second installation of the series on Mesa Verde was the only presentation this semester on an individual park. Dr. Gerke plans on discussing her experiences with archaeological research in next month’s edition of the lecture taking place on the 28th of April, with a focus on her time researching our area. Keep an eye on your calendar for the next article and please feel free to attend the final event in person; the Gardner-Harvey Library is always eager to see people excited to learn.
If you have any questions or are interested in future events held at the Gardner-Harvey Library by Dr. Gerke or by any others, then please utilize the contact information below.
Contact Information
- Dr. Tammie L. Gerke: gerketl@miamioh.edu
- John Burke: burkejj@miamioh.edu
- Jessie Long: longjh@miamioh.edu