Trail Through Time
Trail Through Time27 bedrock mortars near a wayside exhibit along the Trail Through Time.Elevation 1665 ft.There are serious kitchen rocks here.A nice little exhibit with a map to most of the bedrock mortars at this site.
Feature: Bedrock Mortars
Vernal Pool
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 […]
9 Bedrock Mortars Near Sunol Regional Wilderness Interpretative Center
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.
Benica Quarry #2
Benica Quarry #220 bedrock mortarsJim examines an unusual mortar rock at this site.This mortar arrangement is a work of art. Note the flaring rim of the far right mortar.This site is on private property. One should secure permission before visiting it.
Charcoal Road — Saratoga
Charcoal Road — Saratoga16 bedrock mortars in a nice ridgeline setting.Elevation 2516 ft.One of three sites Joel uncovered in a single day.Just some rocks in the woods–or so it seems.A closer look at the main mortar rock.Check out this video by Alexander Kerekes of several sites in the Santa Cruz Mountains including Charcoal Road.
East Goat Rock Camp
East Goat Rock Camp4 bedrock mortars and a probable housepitElevation 1451 ft.We’d hiked around and through this area a number of times, but it took Jeff’s sharp eyes to find this beautiful site. A picturesque seasonal creek flows nearby in a rocky channel.Looking over the main mortar rock toward Alameda Creek. A protected basin lies […]
Hill 1424
Hill 14244 bedrock mortars, partial stacked rock rectangle, and other rock alignments.This site is named for its elevation, which is marked on the topographic map that covers Walpert Ridge.There’s a rockwall enclosure here, although it’s hard to make out in places. Perhaps some of it has been removed or buried.This prayer circle is nearby. Bob […]
Joel’s Rockspring Cave
Joel’s Rockspring CaveTwo bedrock mortars in a rock shelter overlooking a seasonal creek.Elevation 467 ft.Joel discovered this very cool rock shelter not far from the Rockspring Place trail head in Walnut Creek’s Shell Ridge Open Space. The cave can be reached by an easy hike and would be a great place to hang out with […]
Lower Deer Valley
Lower Deer Valley14 bedrock mortars.Elevation 495 ft.Way to go Jaime!Looking at the site. The mortar rocks in this little camp lie just off the Stewartville Trail near Sand Creek in Black Diamond Mines Regional Park.Bob looks down at one of the mortar rocks.These bullet-shaped mortars are deep and reminiscent of the ones found at China […]
Mallory Ridge Pond
Mallory Ridge Pond6 bedrock mortarsElevation 1898 ft.The mortars here may represent an exploitation of geoconcretions.