The sites of Mesa Verde survived in a remarkable state of preservation for many centuries, but their condition has never been completely stable. Weather, age, and a lack of ongoing stabilization and routine maintenance have been the primary threats to their condition. (...)
The sites of Mesa Verde survived in a remarkable state of preservation for many centuries, but their condition has never been completely stable. Weather, age, and a lack of ongoing stabilization and routine maintenance have been the primary threats to their condition. Mesa Verde National Park was included in the 1998 Watch in order to call attention to collapsing walls, sagging roofs, and eroded mortars. In addition to structural issues, original earthen architectural finishes have been deteriorating at an alarming rate, and for many years it was unclear how to best address this problem. Between 1994 and 1996 researchers from the Architectural Conservation Laboratory of the University of Pennsylvania developed a model program for the documentation, conservation, and monitoring of plasters and other painted finishes in the park. In 1998, WMF helped implement this program on a larger scale. The program also provided training to students of architectural conservation in the treatment of earthen finishes. In 2001, with additional funding from American Express, WMF was involved with the documentation and conditions assessment at Spring House, a backcountry site not open to the public.
