UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2007 Cultural implications of architectural mortar and plaster selection at Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado Shane David Rumsey University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Rumsey, Shane David, "Cultural implications of architectural mortar and plaster selection at Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado" (2007). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 2261. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/5fyg-wtzn This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS OF ARCHITECTURAL MORTAR AND PLASTER SELECTION AT MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK, COLORADO By Shane David Rumsey Bachelor of Science Weber State University 2002 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Anthropology Department of Anthropology College of Liberal Arts Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 2007 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1452273 Copyright 2008 by Rumsey, Shane David All rights reserved. INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI UMI Microform 1452273 Copyright 2008 by ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 E. Eisenhower Parkway PC Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright by Shane David Rumsey 2008 All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thesis Approval IINTV The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas November 8, 07 ^20 The Thesis prepared by Shane David Rumsey Entitled Cultural Implications of Architectural Mortar and Plaster Selection at Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado______ is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology Examination Committee Chair, 4L u. S -— Dean of the Graduate College Examination Connnittee Member^ lâ A O ^ . Examination CornmUtee Member Graduate Cbtk^e Faculty Representath’c 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Cultural Implications of Architectural Mortar and Plaster Selection at Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado By Shane David Rumsey Dr. Karen G. Harry, Examination Committee Chair Associate Professor of Anthropology University of Nevada, Las Vegas The research presented here utilizes both mineralogical and elemental analyses to examine prehistoric architectural mortar and plaster samples from kivas at two Pueblo III period cliff house sites in Mesa Verde National Park. In order to provide a thorough geochemical characterization of mortar and plaster samples analytic techniques including x-ray diffractometry (XRD), inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and analytical electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) have been utilized. Similarities and differences in mortar selection among those sites and kivas sampled are then discussed in terms of cultural implications. The most significant result is a temporal trend in mortar selection from early to late periods of occupation at Spruce Tree House. Also discussed are several preservation issues dealing with the accumulation of gypsum soft masses in kiva walls at those sites sampled. This research evaluates the effectiveness of using geochemically based techniques to answer culturally significant questions about building material selection and use. Ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................................iii LIST OF FIGURES...........................................................................................................vi LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...............................................................................................viii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................... 1 Research Objectives ....................................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER 2 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING............................................................ 12 Geology........................................................................................................................ 13 Soils.............................................................................................................................. 17 Climate......................................................................................................................... 19 Flora.............................................................................................................................20 Fauna............................................................................................................................21 CHAPTER 3 CULTURAL SETTING......................................................................... 23 History of Research......................................................................................................24 Prehistory.....................................................................................................................30 Mesa Verde Phase Social Organization.......................................................................40 The Kiva.......................................................................................................................42 CHAPTER 4 METHODOLOGY.................................................................................48 Field Procedures...........................................................................................................48 Mortar Analysis...........................................................................................................56 Plaster Analysis............................................................................................................60 CHAPTER 5 RESULTS...............................................................................................63 Mortar Analysis Results...............................................................................................63 Plaster Analysis Results............................................................................................... 87 CHAPTER 6 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS .................................................. 95 Further Research........................................................................................................ 109 REFERENCES CITED....................................................................................................112 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. VITA............................................................................................................................... 123 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Mesa Verde site map......................................................................................... 4 Figure 2 Mesa Verde regional map.................................................................................13 Figure 3 Mesa Verde style kiva ..................................................................................... 44 Figure 4 Map of Spruce Tree House.............................................................................. 51 Figure 5 Map of Nordenskiold’s Ruin 12...................................................................... 52 Figure 6 Gypsum soft masses under magnification........................................................67 Figure 7 Elemental analysis of gypsum soft mass......................................................... 67 Figure 8 Factor score scatterplot of components 1 and................................................ 2 85 Figure 9 Line scan of specimen C.................................................................................89 Figure 10 Elemental mapping