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Mesa Verde National Park Field 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 crew repairing archeological sites.
NPS Photo
Left: The stabilization crew repairs a kiva at Square Tower House. Middle: Gary Ethridge repairs a kiva wall in Long House. Right: Raymond Begay working in Balcony 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.

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Last Updated: November 29, 2011 at 12:27 MST