Second Terrace20 bedrock mortars; housepits.Elevation 880 ft.That’s another multiple mortar rock at the center of the photo.A closer view. Note the bell-shaped vegetation plug.A view over some of the mortar rocks here.Previous two photographs by Bob Bardell.
Greenhill Ranch, aka The Green RanchElevation 2,440 ft.We call Greenhill Ranch the “Shaman’s Redoubt” because we think it likely that shamen worshipping on Mt. Diablo used this beautiful site as a camp/staging area. In 1938-9 William Wurster, later to become Dean of the Architecture Department at Cal Berkeley (Wurster Hall is named for him), designed […]
Slick Ridge33 bedrock mortars, numerous slicks, and multiple housepits on a ridge between Blue Oak and Volvon Trails.Many of these mortars are pot or pan-shaped, relative rarities in Volvon territory.We call this Slick Ridge because of all the flat rocks with shallow indentations we’ve found here. It’s hard to tell sometimes what’s a slick and […]
Intersection of Devils Slide Trail and Trail Through TimeOne bedrock mortar. Possible housepit nearby.Deep in the canyon below a sulphur spring sits a single cone-shaped mortar. Did a family live here? A single person? Or was this a “traveler’s rest” site?Closeup of the mortar.
Welch-Hurst house14 bedrock mortarsElevation 1421 ft.Another one of Joel’s South Bay discoveries. This one is in Sanborn-Skyline County Park.Judge James Welch constructed this log-style house in 1892 (although some sources say 1908) as a summer home for his family. The historic value of the house, according to the National Register of Historic Places, derives from […]
Intersection of Molluck and Coyote Trails.11 Bedrock mortars.The site spans both sides of Coyote Trail. Possible housepits on the east side.This small site could have been home to one or two families. Perhaps they preferred the relative isolation of this spot to the more crowded settlements nearby.The main bedrock mortar rock at this site. See […]
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 […]
Jalquin Vista Park16 bedrock Mortars, many with recessed “Olla” rims3 housepitsElevation 1194 ft.What’s in a name? The City of Hayward may think this site was in Jalquin territory, but we believe the Yrgin controlled all of the Walpert Ridge “high country.”This is a great site with extensive views. You can drive right up to it.Note […]
Windmill Overlook, Lower20 bedrock mortars and several housepits spread along the base of a rock ledge.Elevation 1355 ft.Looking out on the Livermore Valley.Afternoon shadows creep across the land as Bob walks below the rock ledge.A two-mortar rock. Note the elliptical upper section of the funnel mortar.Photograph by Bob Bardell.
