Mesa Verde: More Than Just Cliff Dwellings
Transcript of 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______________________________ __
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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