 In 1981 , architectural historian Margaret Burke began working under a grant from the Hearst Foundation to inventory the remaining stones . She said it was " an excavation project " because of the weeds , blackberry brambles and tree roots growing over them . Burke identified about 60 % of the stones belonging to the chapter house , a rectangular building originally spanning 31 by 46 feet ( 9 @.@ 4 by 14 @.@ 0 m ) . She separated the chapter house stones , surrounded them with a fence and began creating templates for rebuilding the arched entrances . During 1980 – 1982 the museum board sought $ 45 million for an expansion project that included $ 3 million for rebuilding the chapter house . Meanwhile , Davis asked a museum staff member for permission to take several truckloads of stones to Vina to be used for architectural decoration . Park workers helped him load the most ornate pieces he could find , and they were hauled away . Not told of the arrangement , Burke discovered that Davis had taken some of the chapter house stones , and the museum board insisted these be returned . Davis was left with 58 stones from other monastery buildings . 
