Gezicht op de ruïne van een rotswoning in Mesa Verde National Park before 1893

Gustaf Nordenskiöld created this photogravure of the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings in the late 19th century. It offers a glimpse into both the architecture of an ancient civilization and the scientific practices of its time. Nordenskiöld, a Swedish mineralogist, was among the first to extensively document these Ancestral Puebloan sites in present-day Colorado. His meticulous photographs and detailed drawings of the ruins, combined with his collecting of artifacts, contributed significantly to the archeological record. But we have to consider what kind of record that was. Made during a period of intense colonial expansion, the image raises questions about the ethics of early archeological expeditions and the power dynamics between Western researchers and indigenous communities. As historians, we must reflect critically on how such images shape our understanding of the past and the responsibilities we have in representing cultural heritage. Examining Nordenskiöld's field notes, museum archives, and the voices of contemporary Native American scholars can shed light on the complex history embedded within this seemingly simple photogravure.