Site type and location: Site 5MT129, Sand Canyon. Cliff dwelling (multiple settlement with domestic and religious structures), located in cliff shelter in the branch of the east side of Sand Canyon; facing directly south; elevation: 1795 m above sea level.
Dating: Late Pueblo III period (1225–1280 A.D.)
Description of the research: The investigations of the site and surrounding terrain were carried out periodically between 2013 and 2018 with focusing on non-invasive documentation: survey and recordation, drawing of all standing architecture (in the millimeter paper in the scale 1:20), preparing map of the site, collection of artifacts, and geophysics studies (mainly electrical resistivity) in 2013 and digital 3D documentation in 2017-2018. Digital documentation included mostly photogrammetry as well as laser scanning of the entire alcove and all the rooms and features, rock art panel, slope below the alcove and a part of the canyon and surroundings.
Rock art studies included documentation of the Ancestral Pueblo petroglyphs and several historical inscriptions/”modern graffiti”. Additionally, since 2019 archaeoastronomical observations connected with the rock art panel (during the winter and summer solstices and periods between them) are conducted and with the help of
Ross and Maiya Gralia, volunteers at the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and Vince MacMillan, the Chief archaeologist at CANM, collaborators of the Sand Canyon-Castle Rock Community Archaeological Project.
Digital recording technology: 3D scanning (TLS), photogrammetry, digital photography, hand drawing Recording equipment: Electronic tachymeter Topcon OS-103, Trimble GPS, Faro Focus 3D S120, Nikon D7100 (f/5.6, ISO-400, 35mm with Nikkor lens: 17-55 f/1:2.8G). Software: Faro Scene, Agisoft Metashape, Blender, RTI (for acquiring better resolution of architectural structures, mainly sandstone walls and details of the rock art we have used Agisoft and RTI software). Record: Georeferenced DEM (Digital Elevation Model), georeferenced 3D models, georeferenced orthophoto plans.
© Sand Canyon–Castle Rock Community Archaeological Project, 2021