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The project will identify and describe the modes and mechanisms of deterioration, as well as the damage thresholds for the traditional structures and standing architecture of Pecos.
The project will identify and describe the modes and mechanisms of deterioration, as well as the damage thresholds for the traditional structures and standing architecture of Pecos.
Project Summary
Project Summary
The Pecos projects has occurred in two significant campaigns, split into phases. These phases, however, are not distinct from one another. Each phase acts as an extension and evolution of the last, creating a unified and structured product:
Campaign One (2017-2021)
The University of Pennsylvania Center for Architectural Conservation partnered with the National Park Service (NPS) through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network. This network is a national consortium of federal agencies, tribes, academic institutions, state and local governments, nongovernmental conservation organizations, and other partners working together to support informed public trust resource stewardship.
The phases of the multi-campaign project at Pecos National Monument builds off of the work carried out by the CAC at Fort Union National Monument to develop monitoring protocols to identify short- and long-term vulnerabilities of traditionally-built historic resources (sites) in the arid west. The protocols developed will allow NPS management to develop more informed conservation and management (preservation) plans for these sites.
The project strives to identify and describe the modes and mechanisms of deterioration of traditional structures and standing architecture, as well as damage thresholds. Vulnerabilities based on factors such as composition, construction, orientation, exposure, past treatment, and maintenance are discussed and outlined.
Students and researchers from the Center for Architectural Conservation are further developing their skills in, and knowledge of historic preservation through participation in on-the-ground projects.
Information from this project will be disseminated throughout the professional historic preservation community to ensure that non-NPS sites in the arid west benefit from the research.
July 2018 to September 2019
Organizing Baseline Documentation, including stabilization documentation for the 18th Century Mission Church and Convento Complex and creating a Conservation History Database
Initiate a rapid assessment survey (RAS) and monitoring program for adobe walls in the Convento
Initiate time lapse photography at the site for future use in analyzing climatic data
Team members developing a survey methodology. The low walls in the foreground delineate the convento while the high walls in the back are the walls of the 18th century church.
A CAC team member working to construct tripods for mounting time lapse cameras which will be maintained during the full durations of the project.
September 2019 to September 2020
Collect the necessary data to create high quality ortho-rectified photographs of the 18th century church for the purposes of graphic conditions survey
Field test developed RAS and begin to collect data for analysis
Evaluate time lapse photography
September 2020 to July 2021
Compile final RAS based on past field testing and collect first round of complete data
Carry out the graphic conditions survey using the completed ortho-rectified photographs
Create ortho-rectified photographs and conditions surveys of exposed Convento walls to identify a standard site wide methodology
A National Park Service employee inspecting the surface of an exposed original wall.
Campaign Two (2024 - Present)
Campaign two acts as an extension to campaign one, expanding the CAC’s work to the pueblo complexes and defensive wall on site starting in 2024. Campaign two has the same foundational goals as campaign one: seeking to identify and describe modes and mechanisms of deterioration of traditional structures and standing architecture, as well as damage thresholds.
CAC crew laser scanning (2024)
January 2024 to December 2024
Organized baseline documentation, including stabilization documentation for the North and South Pueblos and the Defensive wall, culminating in a Conservation History Database
Created a finalized map of the features of Pecos
Created orthorectified photographs of extant walls in preparation for condition assessments.
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