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What we didThe Pueblo ConstructionBecause up to thirty percent of the buildings found at the Chevelon site bore evidence of burning, it was imperative that someone distinguish the difference between an accidental fire - perhaps set by a dust explosion in a store room - and a more deliberate fire, one that might have been meant to purify an area or rid a structure of insect infestation. Our team's task was to build a replica pueblo, using the exact measurements and materials used by the ancient Hopi, and then conduct a series of burnings to determine those differences.
Crew Chief AJ Vonarx working on the foundation (left), and continuing construction outside of the Homol'ovi State Park Visitor Center. Built just beyond the Visitor Center on the grounds of Homol'ovi State Park, our little pueblo was constructed of sandstone quarried from rock piles on the road to the Chevelon dig. For mortar, we mixed a four-to-six ratio of clay brought up from the banks of the nearby Little Colorado with sand directly from the ground; this ratio had been determined by various analyses done on the mortar found at Chevelon. Construction itself was a tricky affair involving the careful placement of each rock to ensure the best placement, rather like assembling a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle.
Kylie Thompson preparing clay, left, while Nate Andrews evens up the side of the door (center). The whole crew takes a moment for a picture after the lintel goes up.
Website design copyright 2005 by Kylie Thompson. All images copyright their respective owners among the SCAP 2005 team, unless otherwise noted. Questions or comments should be addressed to legend_of_lilith@yahoo.com. Hosted and maintained by Arizona State Museum. |
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