mesa verde: more than just cliff dwellings

Mesa Verde:Mesa Verde:More Than More Than Just Cliff Just Cliff

DwellingsDwellings

Mesa Verde:Mesa Verde:

• Mesa Verde Ruins Found 1880’s• National Park Status in 1906• Major Rock Type: Sandstone• Who Built the Ruins: Ancient

Puebloans

Influential PeopleInfluential People

• Virginia McClurgVirginia McClurg was a reporter who fought to protect the park for 20 years before it became a park.

• Gustaf NordenskioldGustaf Nordenskiold was one of the first Archaeologist to go and examine the ruins, his book and work help raise awareness.

Park LayoutPark Layout

Landscape & RuinsLandscape & Ruins

Startographic LayersStartographic Layers

Silt

sandstone______________________________ __

____________

Shale

Era Period Group Formation Member Geological Events

Cenozoic Quaternary Stream deposits, talus loess soil

Pediment gravels, cobbles

Weathering of alcoves in cliff walls Headward erosion of canyonsUplift and tilting; isolation of Mesa Verde

cuesta by erosionDevelopmetn of pedimentUplift of La Plata and San Juan MountainsUplift of Colorado Plateaus during Laramide

orogeny

Tertiaty

Mesozoic Upper Creataceous Mesa Verde

Cliff House Sandstone

Barker Dome Tongue & Lower Member

Cliff former; Thick accumulations of fine cross-bedded sand ans thin shale beds ob oscillating shoreline

Menefee Backshore and lagoonal deposits; silts, muds, sand, coal beds

Point Lookout Sandstone

Cliff-former; massive, fine, cross-bedded sands

Mancos Shale Slope-former; deep-water deposits, muds, silts, fine sands

Dakota Sandstone Not Exposed in Park

Geologic TimeGeologic Time

Material MakeupMaterial Makeup

• Alcoves are made of eroded Sandstone

• Bricks made of Sandstone

• Alternating Sandstone & Shale made springs in alcoves possible

Controversy Controversy • Anasazi was the word

first word to describe those that built the ruins.

• Anasazi means “Ancient Ones” and “Enemy” in Navajo

• Tribes of the area prefer the term Ancient Pubeloans

Spruce Tree HouseSpruce Tree House

Balcony HouseBalcony House

Cliff PalaceCliff Palace

Restoration Before & Restoration Before & AfterAfter