Lower North Blue Oak
Lower North Blue Oak3-4 possible bedrock mortarsElevation 2041 feetIt’s hard to tell sometimes if a hole in a rock has been worked or is just a natural feature.
Feature: Bedrock Mortars
Manzanita Trail
Manzanita Trail11 bedrock mortars and slick.Elevation 1700 ft.Looking at the camp from near the trail.The relative remoteness from water suggests this may have been a seasonal camp, but who knows?That’s Manzanita trail in the background.A pair of mortars in a natural depression.Photograph by Bob Bardell.
Near the top of Hog Canyon
Near the top of Hog CanyonPossible bowl Metate with 3 bedrock mortarsThis is either a bowl metate, a rarity in these parts, or what Ernest Johnson in “The Stone Mortars of Contra Costa County” would classify as a type “C3” mortar. Johnson says “Type [C3], which resembles a deeply worn metate, is a true mortar, […]
Post Office Rock
Post Office Rock12 bedrock mortars.Elevation 980 ft.Access to this site is strictly controlled. Call LARPD at (925) 373-5707 for details.Jim leads a group to Post Office Rock.A closer view.
Sanborn Creek Village — Saratoga
Sanborn Creek Village — Saratoga19 bedrock mortars in a beautiful site above a creek confluence.Elevation 980 ft.Another one of Joel’s discoveries. Sanborn Road runs right next to this site.A rare celebration of Indian history in the Bay Area hills. Visitors to this site are officially encouraged to explore–amazing. “Mortar” as used in this sign means […]
Stone Corral
Stone Corral33 bedrock mortars, prayer circle, 2 sets of double cupules, rock wall alignments, and hunting blinds.Elevation 1800 ft.What kind of animals would be constrained by this corral? We believe the stone corral was the site of Indian games and/or ceremonies. HIke up the ridge to the west and find the spot where you have […]
Upper Homestead Trail Knob site
Upper Homestead Trail Knob site.Eight bedrock mortars.Elevation 1285 ft.A little site above the headwaters of Silva Creek.The conjunction of grassland and oak woodland is typical of Volvon territory.An old mortar.
West Ohlone Rocky Ridge
West Ohlone Rocky Ridge17 bedrock mortars and 20 cupulesElevation 1958 ft.Thank you Jeff! Another great discovery. We passed within 50 yards of this site at least three times without noticing it.Bob heads toward the site. There are mortars in that pile of rocks straight ahead of him down the hill.A fine example of a rock […]
Agua Caliente East
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
Bob’s Mortar
Bob’s Mortar75 bedrock mortars, including 9 in a satelilte site about 100 ft. awayElevation 1380 ft.This site was named for the first mortar Bob discovered on his own. It is a single large bowl on a rock right beside the trail. Below the rock a small perennial spring or seep dribbles water into a creek […]