MESA VERDE The Archeological Survey of Wetherill Mesa Mesa Verde National Park—Colorado

The excavations and stabilization of three major cliff dwellings and several mesa-top ruins at the Wetherill Mesa, Mesa Verde National Park, is the first major archeological project undertaken by the Service. This area is being developed so that the numerous visitors expected in future years will all have an opportunity to see at least one of America's outstanding prehistoric ruins.

This project is one of great scientific value. There are many unanswered questions about the ancient inhabitants of the Mesa Verde ruins: who they were, how they survived the rigors of a semiarid climate, why they left when they did.

It was funds made available by the National Geographic Society that allowed the National Park Service to bring to bear upon these problems all related sciences which might, piece by piece, help solve these puzzles. The Service owes a great debt of gratitude to the Society and its Committee for Research and Exploration for their enthusiastic support of this 6-year archeological program. Without their support, such a major scientific undertaking would have been impossible.

I want to thank, in particular, former Director Conrad L. Wirth, under whose able guidance this Wetherill Mesa Project was started and brought nearly to completion. He considered this to be one of the most important projects carried out by the National Park Service and his complete support has allowed it to be a great success.

It is, therefore, especially gratifying to present the first of a series of scientific reports on the various aspects of the Wetherill Mesa Project. This report, which is the complete archeological survey of the Wetherill Mesa, forms the basis on which the subsequent excavations were accomplished. Detailed reports on the excavations of these specially selected sites will follow in due course.

GEORGE B. HARTZOG, JR.
Director