Gezicht op een toegang naar het Balcony House in Mesa Verde National Park before 1893

This photograph of an entrance to Balcony House in Mesa Verde National Park was captured by the Swedish scientist Gustaf Nordenskiöld. Nordenskiöld was one of the first to document the ancient Pueblo people's cliff dwellings in the late 19th century. The image presents us with more than just an architectural marvel; it tells a story of cultural encounter and the politics of representation. Nordenskiöld's presence in Mesa Verde was part of a broader history of exploration and colonization, where indigenous lands and artifacts were often appropriated and recontextualized within Western narratives. While his documentation contributed to the preservation of this world heritage site, it also raises ethical questions about who has the right to interpret and represent cultural heritage. Consider the labor, the ingenuity, and the deep connection to the land that went into creating these dwellings, and how that contrasts with Nordenskiöld's brief encounter. What does it mean for a culture to be defined by outsiders?