Cliff Dwellings Now

In 1906 (18 years after the cliff dwellings had been discovered) the Mesa Verde Region was declared a National Park, aimed at preserving and restoring this part of Anasazi heritage. In the preceding 18 years however, extensive damage was inflicted on the dwellings, as looters came to examine the culture that had long departed. Many of the cultural artefacts were stolen during this time. In 1966, the Mesa Verde National Park was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

This park is open for tourism year long. Tours of many of the cliff dwellings are available to the public during summer, but the options are limited during winter. A question to ask however - should theses ruins continue to be stabilised and offered for tourism - or in the act of intervention, are we changing the character of the ruin, and possibly the character and integrity of the culture who constructed and lived in them? What affect are we, in a modern society having on this historical society? Do we have the right to intervene?

Back to Cliff Dwellings