The Carquin, an Ohlone tribelet, held territory on both sides of the Carquinez Strait.
Dillon Point4 bedrock mortars, 2 or 3 possible mortars, and a slickElevation 100 ft.Joel’s been doing good work on the north side of the Carquinez Strait.Looking out over Southampton Bay and the Carquinez Strait.A closer look at one of the mortars.
Glen Cove Park, aka Sogorea Te3,500 year old village site, shell midden, and burial ground.20+ bedrock mortars visible at low tide on wave-cut benchs.Elevation 10 ft.Thanks to Joel for leading us here.Inhabitants of this village crossed the Carquinez Strait in tule balsas to greet the Fages expedition in 1772. Fages noted in his diary that […]
Mare Island shell middenDeteriorating shell middenElevation 23 ft.Joel seems to have a nose for midden. Keep sniffing ’em out Joel!This is probably one of the two “shell heaps” on Mare Island marked on N. C. Nelson’s 1909 map. Note the contrast between dark midden and tan soil.Joel thinks the shell fragments and midden soil are […]
Winter Solstice alignmentElevation 734 feetThe rocks in this alignment are the only ones in the immediate vicinity.Dave hit the jackpot when he discovered this rock alignment, which lines up nicely with the gap between Mt. Diablo and North Peak.There is a 360 degree view from this hilltop.Awaiting the sunrise.Winter solstice December 21, 2010. Experts assure […]
Rankin Park Overlook1 bedrock mortar.Elevation 295 ft.The largest Indian village early Spanish explorers encountered was probably Carquin. There was a major Carquin village in Crockett on whose site Thomas Edwards constructed the “Old Homestead,” California Historic Landmark #731. This site, needless to say, was not a major one.Jim looks down at the Rankin Park mortar.
Swett Ranch16 bedrock mortarsElevation 372 ft.Looking toward the site.At least one mortar rock has tumbled into the nearby creek.A partially buried mortar rock.The same mortar rock after daylighting.More mortar rocks at this site. It’s easy to make out the single mortar rock, but the multi-mortar rock surface is nearly obscured by shrub branches.We were conducted […]
The Old HomesteadElevation 15 ft.The Carquin village and its accompanying shellmound are gone but not (completely) forgotten.
Benica Quarry #15 bedrock mortarsElevation 140 ft.Look for these mortars on the top rock of a small outcrop.Jim inspects the site.This site is on private property. One should secure permission before visiting it.
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.
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 […]