Paper No. 14
Presentation Time: 4:45 PM
WHEN IS AN ARCHEOLOGICAL DEPRESSION NOT A RESERVOIR?
GRIFFIN, Eleanor R., U.S. Geological Survey, BRR-CR, 3215 Marine Street, Suite E-127, Boulder, CO 80303, BENSON, Larry, US Geological Survey, Emeritus, 602 Pine St, Boulder, CO 80302, STEIN, John, PO Box 3044, Gallup, NM 87305 and FRIEDMAN, Richard, Director of Information Technology, City of Farmington, 800 Municipal Drive, Farmington, NM 87401, egriffin@usgs.gov
Mummy Lake, also called Far View Reservoir, is a walled circular structure located on a ridge on the northern part of Chapin Mesa, Mesa Verde National Park. Although this structure has been reported to be a surface-water collection feature since the 1892 Chapin study, recent studies have questioned that interpretation. We computed surface runoff characteristics using a 10-m DEM from the USGS National Elevation Dataset and a high-resolution (20-cm) grid derived from GPS survey data. Results of our analysis indicate that observed features (drainage pathways and constructed walls) would not have been sufficient to capture water in the hypothesized upslope collection system and deliver the water to the structure. Climate data suggest precipitation onto the limited catchment area would not have been adequate to provide water for domestic use. The maximum snowfall observed at Mesa Verde between 1922 and 2010 was 152.6 inches (3.9 m) during the winter of 1936-1937, with all but 1 inch falling by March 31, 1937. Based on average measured monthly evaporation rates at nearby sites, the maximum snow water equivalent of 15.3 inches (0.39 m) likely would have evaporated by mid-June. Although ponded water has been observed in the structure, summer evaporation rates and the lack of supplemental water would have prevented it from being a reliable water supply even in the best of times.
Analysis of existing tree-ring dates for the Far View Village Complex and ceramics from Far View Reservoir suggest that construction of both the reservoir and the village began about AD 850 with occupation of the village continuing until the onset of the late-13th century drought. Far View Reservoir has strong similarities to Pueblo III (AD 1150-1300) sites suggested to have been places for public gathering and performance of religious activities. We hypothesize that Far View Reservoir was primarily a ceremonial structure that experienced two phases of construction, with the second phase of construction beginning during the McElmo archaeological phase (AD 1050-1150). Evidence pointing towards the ritual nature of the site includes: an abundance of painted ceramics, an ancient road that runs from an unexcavated great kiva on the west of Pipe Shrine House to Far View Reservoir, and three features that may have led from the road into the structure.
