University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Theses (Historic Preservation) Graduate Program in Historic Preservation 2002 Frijoles Canyon, the Preservation of a Resource Lauren Meyer University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses Part of the Historic Preservation and Conservation Commons Meyer, Lauren, "Frijoles Canyon, the Preservation of a Resource" (2002). Theses (Historic Preservation). 508. https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/508 Copyright note: Penn School of Design permits distribution and display of this student work by University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Suggested Citation: Meyer, Lauren (2002). Frijoles Canyon, the Preservation of a Resource. (Masters Thesis). University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/508 For more information, please contact [email protected]. Frijoles Canyon, the Preservation of a Resource Disciplines Historic Preservation and Conservation Comments Copyright note: Penn School of Design permits distribution and display of this student work by University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Suggested Citation: Meyer, Lauren (2002). Frijoles Canyon, the Preservation of a Resource. (Masters Thesis). University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. This thesis or dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/508 uNivERsmy PENNSYLV^NL^ UBKARIE5 Frijoles Canyon, The Preservation of A Resource Lauren Meyer A THESIS In Historic Preservation Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE 2002 |,M,.>s.Le^\x) Advisor Reader ^G. Matero Robert Preucel Associate Professor of Architecture Associate Professor of Anthropology IA>la,Ij Graduate proup Chair Frank G. Matero Associate Professor of Architecture F\«oJi ^''«-•^^/ ^-)A joS Isooa /m^IS UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA IBRADIPS Acknowledgements It is only with the support of others that one can conceive of a vision and follow it through. For the support that they have offered me from beginning to end, I would like to thank Frank Matero, advisor, who provided me guidance, kept me on track and helped me to stay focused on a goal, and Bob Preucel, reader, for his encouraging words and vast knowledge o^ everything relating to the Pajarito Plateau. My heartfeU appreciation to Tomas Jaehn, curator of the Fray Angelico Chavez History Library, Laura Holt, research librarian at the Laboratory of Anthropology, and Diane Bird, archivist for the Laboratory of Anthropology, for their kind assistance. To my friends in the Historic Preservation Program at the University of Pennsylvania, thanks for two great years May our ftjture as colleagues be as ftilfilling as our time as classmates has been. To my family and friends, whose endless support and love has made my life a series of happy days. To my Mom, Dad and Kari for keeping my feet on the ground and reminding me every day that I could do it. And finally, to Eytan.for all of the above. Without you, I couldn't have made it through day one. Table of Contents 1 Introduction 1 Site Identification 6 Tyuonyi 10 The Big Kiva 12 Talus Villages and Cavates 13 Ceremonial Ccn'e and its Contents 15 Overview 16 Bandelier's "Re-discovery" AND THE Early Surveys 19 Re-Discovery of a Resource 21 Early Survey Missions 24 Edgar Lee Hewett 27 The Preservation OF American ANTIQUITIES 31 Beginnings of Concern 32 Early Measures 34 The First Attempt to Preserve Frijoles Canyon 35 Hewett Takes Over 37 A National Park on the Pajarito Plateau 39 A Quest for Legislation 41 The Antiquities Act of J 906. 44 The Future: National Monument Status for the Pajarito Plateau 50 Beyond Legislation: From Theory to Practice 53 Hewett, the ALA and the SAR 54 Preser\'ation and Restoration 57 Hewett 's Philosophy 5g The Work 1908 65 1909 69 1910 72 Table of Contents 1911-1919 74 1920 75 The National Park Service: The future qfpreser\'ation in the canyon 78 Conclusion 80 Preservation and Education 81 The Importance ofHistory 83 APPENDICES 86 A: Figures 87 B: Bandeher's Observations 115 C: Legislation Concerning Frijoles Canyon 121 C-1: American Antiquities Act of 1906 and Regulations 122 C-2: Designation of Bandelier National Monument 128 D: Stabihzation of the Tahis House 132 E: HABS Documentation 140 E-1: Ceremonial Cave 141 E-2: the Large Kiva 146 Bibliography 151 Index 166 List of Figures Appendix A Figure 1.1 Current park and visitor center area map 88 Figure 1.2 Tyuonyi and cliff, before excavation 89 Figure 1.3 Tyuonyi pueblo, current layout 89 Figure 1.4 Conjectural restoration of Tyuonyi pueblo 90 Figure 1.5 Interior of Big Kiva 90 Figure 1.6 Talus village and cliff, Frijoles Canyon 91 Figure 1.7 Close-up view of cavates 92 Figure 1.8 View of Ceremonial Cave 92 Figure 1.9 Restored kiva in Ceremonial Cave 93 Figure 2.1 Adolph Bandelier 94 Figure 2.2 Jose Hilario Montoya 95 Figure 2.3 Sketch map of el Rito de los Frijoles 96 Figure 2.4 Sketch of ruins from Frijoles Canyon 96 Figure 2.5 Cliff Dwellers exhibit, World's Columbian Exposition 97 Figure 2.6 Edgar Lee Hewett 98 Figure 3.1 Alice Cunningham Fletcher 99 Figure 3.2 Casa Grande ruins 100 Figure 3.3 Map of the proposed National Park of the Cliff Cities 101 Figure 3.4 Map showing location of prehistoric ruins 102 Figure 3.5 View of Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park 1 03 Figure 3.6 Map of Bandelier National Monument 104 Figure 4.1 Archaeological map ofthe Jemez Plateau 105 Figure 4.2 Palace ofthe Governors, Santa Fe, before restoration 106 Figure 4.3 Palace of the Governors, after restoration 1 06 Figure 4.4 Sketch map ofthe Canyon ofthe Rito de los Frijoles 107 Figure 4.5 Jesse Nusbaum and A.V. Kidder 107 Figure 4.6 Interior of restored cliff-dwelling 108 1 1 List of Figures Figure 4.7 Interior of restored cliff-dwelling io8 Figure 4.8 Plan of the Sun House .'.'"'Z.'.'lOQ Figure 4.9 Sun House, after excavation 109 Figure 4,10 Ground plan of the large cave kiva no Figure 4. 1 Conjectural restoration of the Great Ceremonial Cave Ill Figure 4.12 Restoration of kiva roof in Ceremonial Cave 1 1 Figure 4.13 Reconstructed Balcony House ruins. Mesa Verde 112 Figure 4.14 School of American Archaeology summer field school.. 1 13 Figure 4.15 Talus House 114 Introduction It should always be remembered that the number ofarchaeological sites in the United States is strictly limited, and that once a site has been carelessly exca\'ated. its value has been destroyed. These ancient ruins are really material documents that comprise the very stuffofAmerican history. Dr. Carl E. Gutlie. The Basic Needs of American Archaeology," SCIENCE, 1939' B y the early part of the 1890s, the American frontier, which in itself encapsulated the dreams and romantic ideals of a growing nation, closed, ending the so called "Manifest Destiny" and the nation's further westward expansion. The once little- explored lands of the western portion of the country were no longer out of reach to the common citizen, as the railroad now stretched from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and travel to the places in between became a matter of days, rather than a matter of weeks. By the time this happened, the documentation of the archaeological bounty of the American west was well underway. As early as the 1870s, the federal government ' Dr. Carl E. Guthe, "The Basic Needs of American Archaeology." SCIENCE, December 8. 1939. Vol, 90, No. 2345. 530. 1 - Introduction was sponsoring surveys and exploration in the region through the United States Geologic and Geographic Survey, and published materials relating to the weahh of natural and cultural resources in the area had become readily available. Collection of the antiquities of the region began in earnest as museums and private patrons put out the call to increase their holdings, not to mention their reputations. Both the American public and those from well beyond became fascinated with the cultures of the desert southwest, as they represented a pre-industrialized, uncomplicated way of life that had been lost to European-based cultures centuries before. They were anxious for images, artifacts, living examples, anything of this "savage" and curious land, whether it be representative of the past inhabitants, or those of the present day. Men and women who were daring enough sought to satisfy this demand, providing materials for museum exhibits, the World's Fairs and private purchase. This interest held strong well into the early 20"^ century, with the public devouring that which was native to this part of the country with enthusiasm. The nation as a whole seemingly adopted the culture and history of the Native American as their common history, bringing a country of immigrants a past with which they could call purely American. Travel into the remote regions of the Southwest quickly escalated, as many ' Introduction tour companies offered itineraries which included excursions into the grandest sites. With few limitations placed upon the tour companies or groups as to what they could visit or take as souvenirs of their travels, the fragile remains of the ancestral Puebloan cultures of what would become the four-comers region of the United States were being destroyed at the hands of those who claimed such an avid interest in their existence. This relative disregard for the value of these remains, for both their historicity and educational importance, was not limited to the casual tourist. Many learned men and women employed by well known institutions and museums also took part in the removal of artifacts from these sites under the guise of the new professionalism of anthropology.