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Evidence of Prehistoric Cultivation of Douglas-Fir Trees at Mesa Verde1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2018

Robert F. Nichols  and
David G. Smith
Robert F. Nichols
Affiliation:
Wetherill Mesa Archeological Project, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
David G. Smith
Affiliation:
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
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Abstract

Three trees which began growing in the 12th century lean in a manner not characteristic of neighboring Douglas-firs and have tree-ring patterns showing changes that do not appear to reflect climatic influences. Two old trees, now dead, have limb stubs that were cut by stone tools. It is possible the prehistoric Indians cultivated trees so that in a relatively short time a single root system would produce several limbs suitable for use as construction timbers.

Type
2 Anthropology
Information
Memoirs of the Society for American Archaeology , Volume 19: Contributions of the Wetherill Mesa Archeological Project , October 1965 , pp. 57 - 64
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1965 

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Footnotes

1

This is Contribution No. 21 of the Wetherill Mesa Archeological Project.

References

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Schulman, Edmund 1946 Dendrochronology at Mesa Verde National Park. Tree-Ring Bulletin, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 18–24. Tucson.Google Scholar
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