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Archeological Restoration in Hovenweep National
Monument, Utah Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 08075A Price: $495 Deposit: $50 Capacity: 12 Leader:
The Trip Hovenweep National Monument is located in the extreme southeast corner of Utah, east of Blanding. We will work to restore the Cajon Unit, an Ancestral Puebloan canyonhead community -- one of six detached units protected by Hovenweep National Monument. Hovenweep is considered to have some of the best examples of Mesa Verde-style masonry architecture. While the work is not strenuous, we may take a half-day off in the middle of the week to hike or tour the area on a rotating basis if participants feel the need for a rest. A variety of evening programs will be available including conservation discussions, archaeological preservation presentations, a survival kit lecture, and hands-on demonstrations of flint knapping and knot tying. The Project The restoration of the Cajon Unit is necessary as the mortar joints between the masonry stone have been slowly deteriorating over the years to the point where new mortar must be mixed and applied soon to preserve the ruin. This will entail mixing carefully selected soil mortar to replace the deteriorated mortar in the joints of the structure in a manner consistent with the construction standards used by the original occupants. This is called “repointing” in masonry terminology.
Please plan on arriving no later than 3 p.m. on day one. Participants are encouraged to arrive by 5 p.m. the evening before the trip departure so that they can join us the following morning for an 8 a.m. walking tour of several excellent sites within 20 miles of base camp. An evening snack and breakfast will be provided. A typical day will start with breakfast at 7 a.m. and work around 8 a.m. Cooler morning temperatures make working early in the day the best option. We’ll pack lunch after breakfast and eat it in the field. If it gets hot we’ll stop work around 3:30 p.m. and take the rest of the day off to clean up, go exploring, or relax. On the optional half-day off, usually Wednesday or Thursday, small groups with a common interest usually go off to hike, explore, or visit nearby ruins. The option of continuing to perform ruins stabilization work may be available. On the departure day there will be no organized activity after breakfast other than breaking camp. You can expect to be on the road to your next adventure or heading home by 9 a.m.
Our base camp will be in the campground at the Hovenweep Square Tower Unit. This is a very scenic campground with heated restrooms, potable water, sun structures, picnic tables, and improved sites, but no showers. Showers will be available to us in a nearby ranger residential unit. While electricity will be available to charge batteries, please do not plan on being able to connect to the internet or use long distance lines. Some cell phones do work in the campground. All meals will be vegetarian and will include cheese, eggs, and other dairy and soy products. Meals will be served family style. Many of the meals can be prepared with meat products, which can be added at the end of preparation if participants indicate in advance their interest in having meat available. All other dietary restrictions are the responsibility of the participant. Cooking equipment and stoves will be available for your use before or after the group meal. Each participant will be asked to volunteer to assist with preparing several group meals and cleaning up after. All group cooking utensils, food, and instruction for meal preparation will be provided. One of the leaders will be present at each meal to direct the process and act as the principle cook.
The location and accommodations in the camp make the tenting and food preparation portion of the trip easy. The desert can be hot or cold, windy or calm, dry or wet at this time of the year. You can best prepare for these conditions by bringing a wide variety of clothes and drinking adequate quantities of water during the trip. We schedule this trip early in the year for a sun break, and to avoid the biting gnats and extreme heat of the desert. The process of mixing, carrying, and applying the mortar may be physically
challenging. The archaeologists we’ll be working with will work on the
walls that are high and may require the use of scaffolding and ladders. All
of our work will be at ground level. You should be able to carry 25-pound buckets
of mortar. Most of the work involves pushing mortar into the gaps between structural
stones with your fingers or small trowels and thus does not require heavy lifting.
You must bring your own mess kit, water bottles, and cutlery for your meals and a plastic container for your lunch. All tools will be supplied by the NPS but many people like to bring their own compass, binoculars, GPS and digital cameras and volunteer their use during survey work. All the cooking equipment for group meals will be provided. You are welcome to use the stoves and cooking equipment for your personal needs except during group meal preparation. You will need a tent (two season or better with rain fly and bug screen), sleeping bag/pad, headlamp, hiking boots, and rain gear (no ponchos).
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Conservation Hovenweep National Monument was established in 1923. Most of the standing architecture in Hovenweep is original and not a product of reconstruction. These masonry units have, however received stabilization at various times during the last 83 years. Since these sites are completely exposed to the elements (wind, rain, vegetation, and rodents), the mud mortar within the masonry joints eventually erodes and must be replaced in order to maintain the integrity of the architecture. As a participant in this stabilization project you will be making a contribution to the preservation of some of the best examples of Mesa Verde-style Ancestral Puebloan architecture seen anywhere in the southwest! The replacement of mortar within the masonry joints will help preserve these structures for at least 15-20 years before another cycle of preservation maintenance is needed.
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Jim Geltz has spent over 20 years trekking, mountain biking, and leading a wide variety of trips in the West, including vision quests and Sierra Club service trips. Jim’s background includes leadership positions in corporate life, local Sierra Club outings, experiential learning outings, Outward Bound, and aboriginal arts and life skills trainings.