Speakers of Ohlone dialects occupied the lands encompassed by Alameda, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and San Francisco Counties. One Ohlone triblet, the Carquin, occupied lands on the north shore of the Carquinez Strait in Solano County and probably in the southern part of Napa County.
9 bedrock mortarsNear Sunol Regional Wilderness Interpretative Center.Alameda Creek is the Bay Area’s largest. Many of its streambed cobbles look like pre-shaped pestles. Perhaps they were valuable trade items.The park authorities acknowledge and celebrate the Indian presence here.
Brushy Peak Loop Trail6 bedrock mortars and two probable mortarsElevation 1338 ft.We missed this rock in our earlier survey. The new Brushy Peak Loop Trail passes right by it.
El Sobrante LibraryVillage site and shellmoundElevation 95 ft.Another one of Joel’s discoveries.The library was constructed right on top of a major village site, but you’d never know it.Midden soil.
Joel’s Fat Lip MortarsThree bedrock mortars in a beautiful picnic siteElevation 776 ft.Thanks to Joel for discovering this special site.We’ve found plenty of mortars with rounded rims in the Bay Area but few whose rims rise above the surface of the surrounding rock and none that rise so dramatically.This rim forms a nearly perfect ring. […]
Murietta Falls3 bedrock mortarsHike out to Murietta Falls in the winter when the creeks are full of water.Bob sits on a rock slab not too far from the falls. Note the mortar hole full of water in the foreground.Murietta FallsPhotograph by Bob Bardell.
Ryan’s Hideaway24 bedrock mortars.This site is named in honor of Ryan the Cowboy, who has kicked us off the ridge several times when we accidentally strayed onto private property.Being tucked away in a little hollow amid sheltering trees gives this site a “hideaway” feel. Look for more mortars on and around the little hill that […]
Sunol Ridge, North of Prayer CircleRock wall and possible cairnElevation 1797 ft.Bob heads down along the rock wall to inspect the possible cairn, which sits at the top of the watercourse that flows past the Prayer Circle.This site may be on private property. One should secure permission before visiting it.
Vernal Pool23 bedrock mortarsElevation 1025 ft.Access to this site is strictly controlled. Call LARPD at (925) 373-5707 for details.One of the vernal pools that give this site its name.Another view of the same pool, this time with water in it.The Brain lives in a nearby cave.Jim and Ranger Pat Sotelo head for a rock shelter […]
Above Mission Peak MeadowTwo probable bedrock mortars, one pestle, rock alignments.Elevation 1761 ft.Jeff discovered these mortars a long time ago. We looked and looked but couldn’t locate them. Recently Jeff led an expedition here. The mortars look like they could have formed from rain or fog drip, but Doc Hale, our resident expert, gave them […]
Buckeye Canyon MoundShellmound in a beautiful canyon settingElevation 242 ft.Thanks to midden man for directing us here.The map accompanying N. C. Nelson’s Shellmounds of the San Francisco Bay Region showed six shellmounds clustered along the south shore of the now-filled Brisbane lagoon. Undoubtedly this was one of them.Looking out over the mound. We estimate its […]
