Existing comment:
Talus House is a group of masonry rooms reconstructed in 1920 by archeologist Kenneth Chapman. 14th-16th Century foundations revealed by excavation in 1909 were a guide to the original layout of the stone walls. A group of Native American workers from nearby San Ildefonso Pueblo did the construction work. Chapman reconstructed Talus House to illustrate how many of the cavates had masonry rooms built in front of them. Look for horizontal rows of holes in the cliff face: they indicate where the roof beams for these stone structures would have been placed.
Architectural conservators at Bandelier National Monument are leading a crew of masonry workers in the preservation of Talus House. The flat roofs of the structure are vulnerable to erosion from rain and snow, as well as damage from rock falls.
The preservation work includes replacing deteriorated roofing elements, including log beams (called vigas), smaller cross-branches (known as latillas), mortar in the stone parapets, and the dirt roof coverings. Workers use archival photographs of the building as a reference to maintain its historic appearance. |