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.
Blue Rock Springs Park — North Rock wall Elevation 695 ft. This wall reminds us of similar alignments on Mission Peak and in the South Bay. It runs, with breaks, nearly all the way to I-80. The barbed wire fence and rock wall coincide with each other. Were they constructed at the same time? Compare […]
Jeff’s LookoutOne bedrock mortar, one slick, one pestle, one probable mortar, and one possible mortar.Elevation 1329 ft.This is another Sunol Ridge site Jeff turned us on to. Keep up the good work Jeff!The vicinity of Jeff’s Lookout offers fabulous views of Niles Canyon and Alameda Creek.The bedrock mortar and the slick form part of a […]
Reservoir7 bedrock mortarsElevation 743 ft.These mortars sit where relatively level ground gives way to rocks and rising contours. They are subject to burial by soils washed down from above.One of a pair of bullet-shaped mortars on a slab near the five-mortar rock pictured above. Note the machined interior and flat rim.Photograph by Bob Bardell.
Upper Shady CanyonOne bedrock mortar and a possible rock cairnElevation 953 feetThanks to Nick the Scout for leading us to this site.This site offers a commanding view.Note how the mortar rim is raised in a “fat lip” configuration.
Chinese Tree of Heaven18 bedrock mortars (including 5 bowl mortars), 3 metates, 2 cupules, incised rocks, rock rectangles, rock walls, and rock-lined pathwaysThe Chinese Tree of Heaven tree (Ailanthus altissima) was introduced to California by the Chinese during the Gold Rush. The presence of this tree along with the dry-laid masonry skill apparent in a […]
Mid-Walpert Village32 bedrock mortars, rock wall alignments, numerous cupules and grinding slicks.A low, stacked-rock rectangle on a slope just below the crest of Walpert Ridge dominates this site. Could it have been a sheepherder’s corral? What, for paralyzed sheep? So who would have stacked these rocks if not the Yrgin residents of the small village […]
South of Prayer CircleBowl mortar, pestle, and slick.This little camp is about 1300′ above sea level.Assuming the pestle went with the bowl mortar, how was it used? Please do not remove the pestle. Leave it for others to enjoy.One should secure permission before visiting this site.
Windmill Overlook, Central22 bedrock mortars; housepitsElevation 1380 ft.From this ridge one can see and hear the windmills from the Altamont Pass wind farms.Alien creatures stalk across Ssaoam land..Looking toward the site..Two of the mortar rocks here.There are several housepits at this site..The rocks here provide some shelter from the prevailing winds. Note the volvano-shaped mortar […]
Agua Caliente EastThree bedrock mortars and one anvilElevation 475 ft.Joel discovered this mortar rock up the creek from the Agua Caliente site.It’s unusual to see mortars in such poorly cemented sandstore. Note the small stones in the rock matrix.Photographs by Bob Bardell
Frick Lake16 bedrock mortars and anvils.This site hugs the southwestern boundary of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve. Thanks to Joel for discovering it.Looking down at the site and at Frick Lake.Photograph by Bob Bardell.The mortar rocks.A closeup of one of the mortar rocks.Another mortar rock. Note the range of mortar sizes–from the cupule/anvil through the shallow […]
