Volvon
or Miwok Mortars in Los Vacqueros
North of Livermore California
crossed view click to enlarge
North of Livermore California
crossed view click to enlarge
Volvon or Miwok Mortars in Los Vacqueros
North of Livermore California
crossed view click to enlarge
| Mortars and
petroglyphs
sometimes can be found in the meadows and canyons throughout
California. The native American tribes lived
along the coast for more than 10,000 years. The age of this site
is uncertain (two or three thousand years) and shows many generations
of use. Acorns were ground
in these bedrock stone mortars and hundreds of these are present at
this
site. Some rocks have been drilled through, rolled over, and
drilled again. The Miwok culture existed in a stable state for
more than 3,000 years. The Spanish moved into this area in 1772 and hunted
down and killed those
that would not be converted to Mission life by 1806. Many of
these
sites show apparent signs of fortification and 200 year old
vandalism.
Sites like this do not alone give a clear picture of these
peoples.
Fortunately, Yurok and Miwoks living along the coast and further North
were not
Missionized. Some aspects and artifacts of these culture were
preserved
and documented.
It is difficult to imagine who these people
were and how they lived on this land. Clues lie in the
arrangements and use of the rocks. |
