Photography by Marilyn Price

Moab, UT 2009

Wall and doorway, Pueblo Bonita, Chaco Culture National Historic Park, NM

This photo shows a doorway and part of the outer wall of Pueblo Bonita. According to the guidebook, this doorway is for a second level room - the first level room is still buried below ground. Originally, there were four or five levels to this section of the pueblo. Note how the outer wall narrows as it goes higher. This decreases the total weight of the wall, while providing the support needed to keep the lower walls from buckling and collapsing. Similar techniques were used in Europe for the cathedrals and bell towers built about the same time. Chaco Culture National Park, NM

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