Richard Wetherill (1858-1910), a member of a prominent Colorado ranching family, was an amateur explorer in the discovery, research and excavation of sites associated with the Anasazi or Ancient Pueblo peoples. Richard Wetherill is credited with the discovery of Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde and was responsible for initially selecting the term Anasazi, Navajo for ancient ones, as the name for these ancient people. He also discovered Kiet Seel ruin, now included, along with Betatakin ruin, in Navajo National Monument in northeastern Arizona. "Slightly smaller than Cliff Palace, Kiet Seel possesses qualities that, in the eyes of some, lend it greater charm and interest."[1] Wetherill became fascinated by the ruins and artifacts and made a career as an explorer, guide, excavator and trading post operator.
The Wetherill family's good relations with local Indian tribes, including the Utes, allowed them access to many canyons on Ute controlled land. The family maintained a guest house at their ranch, offering tours and helping people obtain collections of artifacts. Although modern archaeologists are appalled at the damage done by early explorers like the Wetherills, preservation of the sites was not a concern for early explorers and scholars, who were more interested in either experiencing the curious ruins and relics or collecting artifacts for museum and university display than understanding the people and culture that created them. It is fair to say that, had Richard Wetherill not discovered and popularized the ruins, others would have.
