Upper San Antonio Creek
Upper San Antonio Creek2 small cone-shaped bedrock mortarsPhotograph by Bob Bardell
Territory: Taunan
The Taunan, an Ohlone tribelet, held hill country south of Livermore centered on Arroyo del Valle Creek.
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 […]
Williams Gulch
Williams Gulch2 bedrock mortars and 2 cupulesElevation 1369 ft.Jeff has a way of finding bedrock mortar rocks in remote locations.The mortar rock here sits on a little shelf above Miller’s Creek.Another view of the mortar rock.A closeup of the rockPrevious two photographs by Jeff Green.This site is on private property. Secure permission before visiting it.
Lake Del Valle, Campsite 40
Lake Del Valle, Campsite 402 bedrock mortars on a rock in the creek bedElevation 717 ft.Thanks to Joel and Alex for discovering this rock.
Lake Del Valle, Campsite 74
Lake Del Valle, Campsite 7414 cupule rock and 1 small bedrock mortar on rock in the nearby creekElevation 714 ft.Thanks to Joel and Alex for discovering these rocks.The cupule rock was likely moved here. The patterns of cupules appear non-random, which suggests they may have had representational functions.This shallow mortar is difficult to make out […]
Miller’s Creek
Miller’s Creek3 bedrock mortarsThere’s a lot of up and down hiking from Lake Del Valle to Murietta Falls. Miller’s Creek is about halfway there. It flows down in the depths of Williams Gulch.Bob leans against the bedrock mortar rock beside Miller’s Creek.
Murietta Falls
Murietta Falls3 bedrock mortarsHike out to Murietta Falls in the winter when the creeks are full of water.Bob sits on a rock slab not too far from the falls. Note the mortar hole full of water in the foreground.Murietta FallsPhotograph by Bob Bardell.
San Antonio Creek Rock
San Antonio Creek Rock4 bedrock mortars, three on one rock, fourth on north side of rock near roadPhotograph by Bob Bardell
Stromer Spring
Stromer Spring25 bedrock mortars, cupules, and PCN-style petroglyphsElevation 2023 ft.We used to drink from Stromer Spring in the not-so-distant past. The Park District warns against doing it now.A nice, single-track trail passes near here. We followed it many times without ever stopping to examine these rocks. If we considered them at all, we dismissed them […]