NPS: Archeological Excavations in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

MESA VERDE

Archeological Excavations in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado • 1950

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction to Mesa Verde Archeology (Don Watson)

Early History of the Mesa Verde
Archeological research
Summary of the archeology of the Mesa Verde
   Basketmaker I
   Basketmaker II
   Basketmaker III
   Pueblo I
   Pueblo II
   Pueblo III

Excavation of two late Basketmaker III pithouses (James A. Lancaster and Don Watson)

Introduction
   Selection of the Twin Trees Site
   Location and physiographic conditions
   Excavation methods
Architectural features
   One pithouse or two?
   Tree-ring dates and construction sequence
   Roof construction
Artifacts
   Objects of stone
   Objects of bone
   Unworked bone
   Perishable objects
   Pottery
Summary and conclusions

Excavation at Site 16 (James A. Lancaster and Jean M. Pinkley)

Introduction
Location and history of Site 16
Excavation of Site 16
   The post and adobe village
      The village
      Kiva 2
      Material culture
Unit Pueblo No. I
   The pueblo
   Kiva 3
   Material culture
Unit Pueblo No. II
   The pueblo
   The towers
   Kiva 1
   Material culture
Other occupations of Site 16
   Basketmaker III (Modified Basketmaker)
   Pueblo I (Early Developmental Pueblo)
   Later use of the site
The Mesa Verde Kiva
   Steps in the development of the Mesa Verde kiva
   Kiva features
Material culture
   Stone artifacts
   Bone artifacts
   Ornaments
   Pottery
   Foodstuffs
Dating of Site 16
Summary and conclusions

Excavation of Sun Point Pueblo (James A. Lancaster and Philip F. Van Cleave)

Introduction
Sun Point Pueblo
The kiva-tower
The village proper
Observed evidence and artifacts
   The kiva
   The tunnel
   The tower
   The house floor areas
   The trash mound
Dating the occupation
Stabilization and repair
Conclusions

References cited

Index (omitted from the online edition)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Douglas McKay, Secretary

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Conrad L. Wirth, Director

sketch of cliff dwellings

LIST OF FIGURES

Plate

1. Map of Chapin Mesa
2. The two pithouses of the Twin Trees Site
3. Architectural features
4. Slab wall of second pithouse
5. Postulated method of roof construction of first pithouse
6. Reconstruction of second pithouse
7. Manos
8. Metate and mano
9. Pot covers
10. Hammerstones and maul
11. Rubbing, pounding, and polishing stones
12. Miscellaneous stone objects
13. Miscellaneous artifacts
14. Lino Gray jar
15. Jar handles
16. Miniature vessels
17. Sherds of La Plata Black-on-white
18. Excavation at Site 16
19. Ground plan of Site 16
20. Post and adobe village ground plan and kiva profile
21. Post and adobe village after excavation
22. Post and adobe village after stabilization
23. Kiva 2, associated with the post and adobe village
24. Artist's reconstruction of post and adobe village
25. Unit Pueblo No. I ground plan and profile
26. Upper photograph—Unit Pueblo No. I
Lower photograph—Kiva 3, associated with Unit Pueblo No. I
27. Artist's reconstruction of Unit Pueblo No. I
28. Unit Pueblo No. II ground plan and profile
29. Unit Pueblo No. II
30. Kiva 1, associated with Unit Pueblo No. II ground plan and profile
31. Kiva 1, associated with Unit Pueblo No. II
32. Kiva 1, associated with Unit Pueblo No. II
33. Artist's reconstruction of Unit Pueblo No. II
34. Steps in the development of the Mesa Verde kiva
35. Manos
36. Rubbing stones or small manos
37. Small hammerstones and pecking stones
38. Axes, hammers, and maul
39. Miscellaneous stone artifacts
40. Concretions
41. Bone artifacts
42. Ornaments
43. Necklace of shell beads
44. Necklace of shale and shell beads and a bone gaming piece
45. Miscellaneous clay objects
46. Basketmaker II—Pueblo I decorated bowl sherds
47. Mancos Black-on-white bowl and ladle sherds
48. Mancos Black-on-white bowl and ladle sherds
49. Mancos Black-on-white bowl and ladle sherds
50. Mancos Black-on-white pitcher and jar sherds
51. Mancos Black-on-white pitcher and jar sherds
52. Mancos Black-on-white vessel handles
53. Mancos Black-on-white vessels
54. Pueblo II corrugated jar sherds
55. Pueblo II corrugated jars
56. Site 16 after excavation and stabilization
57. Excavation at Sun Point Pueblo
58. Ground plan of Sun Point Pueblo
59. Profiles of Sun Point Pueblo
60. Kiva interior
61. Upper photograph—Kiva interior showing tunnel entrance
Lower photograph—Kiva-tower unit, looking west
62. Schematic panorama of kiva interior
63. Kiva-tower unit
64. Sun Point Pueblo
65. Miscellaneous objects
66. Objects of stone
67. Slab metate
68. Manos from Sun Point Pueblo
69. Mesa Verde Black-on-white half-bowl
70. Black-on-white sherds from the excavation of Sun Point Pueblo
71. Corrugated sherds from the excavation of Sun Point Pueblo
72. Artist's reconstruction of Sun Point Pueblo

LIST OF TABLES

1. Southwest classificatory systems
2. Stone artifacts—Pithouses
3. Sherd types and percentages—Pithouses
4. Sherd analysis—Site 16
5. Sherd percentages by excavated unit—Site 16
6. Sherd percentages by periods—Site 16
7. Tabulation of body and rim sherds—Site 16
8. Sherd counts from the excavation—Site 16
9. Tabulation of artifacts recovered—Sun Point Pueblo

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Last Updated: 19-May-2008