Gezicht op de opening van een grafruimte in de rotsen in Mesa Verde National Park before 1893

This photograph of an opened burial chamber in Mesa Verde National Park was taken by Gustaf Nordenskiöld in the late 19th century, using a process of silver gelatin. The tones range from dark blacks to soft grays, capturing the texture of the rock formations and the depth of the chamber. It is tempting to view such a picture through a romantic lens, focusing on the beauty of the landscape and the mystery of the ancestral Puebloans culture. However, the act of making the image itself has a layered social context. Nordenskiöld was part of a broader movement of archaeological exploration that has been described as a form of cultural extraction. With the opening of the American West, there was also a concerted effort to document and take possession of indigenous artifacts, to be relocated into private and museum collections. Understanding the historical context of its making allows us to reflect on broader issues of labor, ownership, and cultural heritage.