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Mesa Verde National ParkField crew working at monitoring and stabilizing sites.
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Mesa Verde National Park
Stabilization and Structural Engineering

Stabilization

Stabilization treatments are used to preserve the original architecture and archeological features within a site. The stabilization crew at Mesa Verde National Park consists of professional archeologists and stone masons that work together to assure that each wall is properly documented and repaired to meet National Park Service standards.

 
Stabilization crews repairing kiva walls.
NPS Photo
Left: The stabilization crew repairs a kiva at Square Tower House. Right: Gary Ethridge repairs a kiva wall in Long House.
 

 

Structural Engineering

Through the Vanishing Treasures Program (pdf, 47 kb), a structural engineer was hired to work with 44 National Parks that contain historic and prehistoric buildings and structures. This specialized expertise is used to evaluate sites with structural problems. Through assessment and monitoring, structural engineering problems are identified and treated before they lead to collapse. In this way, threats are better identified and understood, and stabilization priorities are established according to structural needs.

 

 
Examples of walls in need of structural engineering attention.
NPS Photo
Top left: Structural engineer, Preston Fisher inspects a crack for possible movement. Top right: A crack monitor is used to track movement. Bottom: A wall at Spring House being monitored for structural movement.
View of the House of Many Windows cliff dwelling  

Did You Know?
Ninety percent of Mesa Verde’s cliff dwellings contain 10 rooms or less. One-third have only one or two rooms. This should help to put the more famous cliff dwellings of Cliff Palace (150 rooms), Long House (150 rooms), Spruce Tree House (130 rooms), and Balcony House (40 rooms) into perspective.

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Last Updated: November 04, 2008 at 18:01 EST