MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK, Colo. (AP) -- Archeologists at Mesa
Verde National Park say a crack is threatening the southern half
of the park's largest and most famous cliff dwelling. The park
announced Friday that the crack and other related structural
problems is the reason why visitors have been kept away from the
edge of a kiva on tours of Cliff Palace this summer. Wooden
braces are now shoring up the kiva, a round, Pueblo Indian
ceremonial structure built in the 13th century. The crack was
discovered last summer but it's not the only problem
archeologists are working to fix. Cliff Palace was built on a
sloping alcove floor and, over time, it has been sliding
downslope. Dripping water has been a long-standing problem, too,
but water is now being rerouted away from the building.