Clues To Locating Ancient Sites In California
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- Опубликовано: 22 ноя 2019
- Finding Lost Civilizations - An Educational Series.
Trek with me as I explain several of the clues to research and look for when trying to locate ancient sites in California
Many years ago I was an archeology student in California, and on site surveys (looking for ancient settlements, rock art, etc) we expected to find mortar clusters wherever there were significant numbers of oak trees, as the acorns were a food staple for the local native people and must be ground to prep them for leaching the bitter tannins out of them to make them edible. It was only as we progressed in our studies that we learned that this method of food prep also was ultimately the cause of death of many, many native Americans, as stone grit from the mortars and pestles became mixed into the acorn meal, and slowly ground down the teeth of those who lived on this diet - often right down to the gum line. This condition was obviously extraordinarily painful to live with, (imagine chewing on grit-infused acorn meal on teeth with exposed nerves) and very often led to death by dental abscess. As an advanced student, I saw many burials exhibiting these symptoms - some archeologists say dental abscesses were perhaps THE leading cause of death among these populations. Knowing how stunningly beautiful and seemingly edenic many of these settlement sites were in the nurturing California climate, it gives me a lingering sadness to realize how much pain and suffering humans endure, even in a seeming paradise, and always have...
Godfrey, thank you for watching and your comments. I have also observed this phenomena when encountering burial remains. Many people are unaware that the lack of dental hygiene/knowledge and/or dietary practices in the past was a significant factor in the deaths of people in the old world. When the London (England) Bills of Mortality began listing the causes of death in the early 1600's, "teeth" were continually listed as the fifth or sixth leading cause of death. Anyway, thank you for sharing your observations............................alex
Interesting as ALL civilizations , up until the early 1900s, used stone to grind grain. It doesn't seem to have been such a problem elsewhere?
@@lifeandliberty0172 - Actually it HAS been problem elsewhere - but it's just not a topic of widespread scholarship or commonly reported. Plus the hardness of the stone makes a big difference - many of the outcroppings in CA where acorns were ground are relatively soft stone...
This was an interesting read. Appreciate your wisdom.
@@lifeandliberty0172 yes, it was. Read more
To whomever cares, I believe that I seen a mound shape Pyramid off of Frwy 198 Tulare County Lake Kahwea. It is the ONLY one that is shaped differently than the natural shape foothills.
It's next to the lake 🤔. There are some rocks in a perfect circle. And the ironic thing that caught my eye was seeing the Turkey Vultures flying around directly over the center of the "possible" Pyramid.
My grandfather used to find arrowheads, manos & metates whenever he plowed his fields on the Kings River in the San Joaquin Valley. The farm house and barn were wisely located on the ancient plateau above the rivers ancient floodplain.
Well done. A good way to acknowledge the original people of California.
John, thanks for watching and your comments...........alex
There were people there even prior to that, the red haired giants. In my area the tribes have told me through shaman elders they were raised by that the red haired giants were here at least 50,000 years ago . The book Before America is worth reading too.
@@joebobmarley2854 I heard of giant skeletons in Avalon. Catalina island. Off of Long Beach. I feel if we were to all be aware of our actual real history, then we wouldn’t be manipulated by this cancer culture.
I grew up in Pleasanton, and have hiked extensively in Mt Diablo State Park. Of course I have seen many rocks with grinding holes, but I never really stoped to ponder the people who made them, or envisioned Native people living there. Thanks for the insight.
When I was a kid in Long Beach used to find obsidian arrowheads all the time in my flower bed I also found a barbed copper spear point at Cabrillo Beach back in the 50s
Wow that's amazing. I grew up in Long Beach and never found anything primitive like arrowheads or tools. But after moving up to the mountains I have had much more luck finding arrowheads and other treasures. Good luck to you. 👵✌
Where do you think the copper came from? Back from the Great Lakes?
Wow, I have only found one arrowhead in my life. The spear head would be the best!
Beautiful! I almost fell out of my seat when you turned over that stone. I was eyeing it too. Very exciting!
I saw a clip of native kumeyaay in Baja calif mx in oak forest still using the old ways grinding acorns on mortar holes near a stream bed
Kool stuff! While looking for arrowheads I discovered a lost civilization in my front yard. I built my cabin on an ancient ceremonial site in Vermont. It has a serpent wall running through it that is a calendar following the horizon. White quartz tools and weapons were made here using local stone. Artistic renditions of the people and animals were carved into hard quartz. I found garnet scrapers used for shaping the quartz. Lots of grinding platforms and pestals were found in the field on the west side of the wall. The east side is the cemetery where the burial mounds are. Not many people believe these things are possible until they see the stones. Jimmy
Jimmy, thanks for watching and your comments. My family has lands in a place known as the Eastern Townships in Quebec - Canada bordering Vermont which contains many mysteries stone mounds. Some exciting stuff out there for sure.........alex
I can only imagine the things that you’ve seen. Must be haunted as ever.
@@stevestiffler9120 still dancing on the daisies.
Another well done video you have created for us. Thank you, Alex. We appreciate your dedication to the extensive research involved prior to hiking out to these sites and showing us your findings. Great job. Hope you are doing well. Cheers.
Alex, thank you for another wonderful video. I'll never forget your heart wrenching video about the plain of jars in Laos.
Joe, thanks for watching. Somewhat different from my trek into Laos.......................alex
@@storiesbyalex Alex, the morphine vials in the cave were heartbreaking. Do you think that wounded people were Sheltering in this cave during the heavy bombing of the plain of jars?
Nice work. Thanks for bringing local history to Life with your presentations.
Thanks for your very informative video. I ran into 'mortor' hollow outs many times, back in the 1960/70s, when hunting and fishing Deer Creek and Lake Almanor areas.
Mr. Alex, thanks for providing us a distraction from the worlds troubles for awhile. Your videos are fascinating.
Thanks Alex for respectfully sharing this Native peoples history with utmost respect.
.....Wow...here in Kern River Valley are some of those mortar holes...I see them directly next to the Kern river...which is California's longest river, which is feed by snow melt from the tallest mountain in the lower 48, Mt. Whitney...The native Indian presence is still here, in their people and a native Indian center next to Lake Isabella.....
I just found your videos. What a great job you do. I love everything of the ancients. You go so many interesting places.
Amazing sir, thank you. I live in the Bay area and trek for ancient sites myself, I hope to see you on the trails!
I live near here and I'm just amazed and intrigued and so thankful for you!
FYI: There is a hill south-east of the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 12 (Jemeson Canyon) that I believe has been passed off as a glacial moraine - though there is no other evidence of glacial activity anywhere else in the area from what I've seen (except for Yosemite over 100 miles south) - and I've lived here my entire life (with the exception of 8 years abroad). Th e hill, roughly 120 feet high (I've never measured it), is topped by what appears to be hand placed boulders. Not a moraine - and NOT a pile of rocks placed by farmers clearing land (that idea is ludicrous). Perhaps you should look into THAT!! God knows, I've been wondering about it for over 50 years . . .
Alex, you have won my respect and admiration so many times over. I feel like we are on the same pursuit, to tell the story of early California inhabitants so it can live on. I want to comment on your 3 requirements, which are correct about finding ancient first nation sites. I look for a few more requirements in my searching. Aside from a water source, basic food and shelter, I also look for access to game. These people were smart enough to know they could not live on ground-up pine nuts, buckeye or acorn, they had to have some protein in their diet. They also were bread bakers. I look for fire rings, baking alcoves, sleeping areas and birthing areas at every site I visit. I also look for ways to which they leached off tannin near grinding holes. So they too looked for the 3 basic requirements, but also asked themselves, did the area support game and how could they hunt for it, degree of difficulty. Another was defense. Were they located in a defensible position where they could also see an invading war party coming. Another was trade. Was their location near a known trade route. I know Sierra Miwok traded with Coastal Miwok and Ohlone, trading salt for curing game, for shell fish trinkets, for example. One known route was down the Stanislaus Canyon across the valley to the Ohlone Wilderness Region, but there were many others mostly following waterways.
Ron, thanks for watching the series and your kind words. Yes, those are all definite clues or indicators as to what California natives considered when selecting a village site. Thanks for your input...............................alex
Thank you for the historical info .In Idaho along a creek bed I found those same round holes in bed rock.In an area noted to have had alot of Indian activity.and about 2 miles up the mt is an area where arrow heads were made .thank you from wash state .
Also on the 60 fwy going east towards Moreno valley I always used to see this random cluster of huge boulders that always just seemed odd to me. I need to take a closer look at them.
I spent some numbers of years out along the levees along the river by the Sacramento Airport. Many deciduous burial spots were being moved for expansion. Among the almond tree groves with the trickle of the river. In the Golden sunshine by the rice patties.
Alex, a wonderful area. Looks really ancient. Thanks.
Thanks for watching. It was definetly a fun trek..................alex
I went hiking in Southern California (OFF TRAIL) and found a location that i totally thought was Native occupied at one point and found these mortars. Now I have confirmed....
Loved the tire at the base of the tree in the intro 😂
Also, I lived in the Bay Area (CoCo County) all my growing up years, in the shadow of Mt. Diablo...and never knew about this site! Color me amazed!
Brushy Peak! Never knew all of those holes were tools but it seems common sense now. This is awesome
Livermore!!
Thank you Mr Alex. You have. Clear and quick method of instructing and informing us. I live in Auburn,Ca. Any chance you have or will present another fantastic video or Auburn? You inspire and educate many! Thank you sir! Mark T in Auburn.
I enjoy sharing your excitement as you explore the site. I saw that stone too and was thinking, “ turn it over ”!! Real life history, action and adventure! Thanks always!
Jen, thanks for watching - it was definitely a fun trek.........alex
So glad you’re on YT. I used to watch you on AMP.
Thanks old timer... love the surprise voice dialogue EZ on the ears... you have to smile... megalithic detectives my favorite...so keep your powder dry and good luck
Awesome! Thank you for taking us along! :)
Thanks you very much Alex, to share your expeditions with us
Thanks for watching - it was a fun trek....................alex
BTW, last September I had my first encounter with Petroglyphs at Donner Summit, CA and Grimes Point, NV. It was an amazing experience.
One thing to consider is that not all rocks with cupules were for grinding acorns. Some of the large boulders with cupules were used for cerrmonial purposes by women for conceiving children and less commonly, healing : )
San Diego's East county is Alive
With item's like this Plus some
Large Rock sculptures!
Could you imagine a 35 ft. Tall
Jaguar next to a stream bed?
A Shamans cave with grinding
Bowl inside?
Fantastic Video ,Sir.
Nice walking stick for a great Hike in the woods I used to have a cool one as well a few years back
I grew up in Berkeley and can speak to seeing evidence myself throughout California's back country !
Thank you. That is terrific and well done!!!
Wow my mind is blown 🤯 never ever heard of these sites! Can't imagine how many were destroyed or covered up today 😑 what a great video! Thank you sir 🙏
I’ve seen these types of things all around Sonora ca very cool.
I admire this video!!! Keep it up 😀
Thanks for another video glad your out and about.......
Thanks for watching...............alex
What a great find !
Thank you for this very interesting
Awesome video! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for watching. It was definetly a fun trek.....................alex
Take the road from 29 palms to Amboy - at the top of the pass just past the mountain on the right side is dirt road heading east and then south, Follow the road around the mountain to a a very long causeway. At the top of the causeway there is a throne and an alter with ancient markings.
@@jeffhildreth9244
facts, sacred is sacred
Amazing info it was a lot of help, you're like Indiana Jones knowing how to find these places
I found a mortar with the pistil still in it...My 5th grade teacher stole the pistil from me when I brought it to class to show the students. He was real sneaky about it, but oh well we gave him a heart attack not long after.
So much excitement!
Nicely done. Nowadays I trend to survey these kinds of areas with aerial drones prior to hiking ...
Very interesting. Aside from its efficiency in locating sites, I wonder if/how this adds to your perspective in understanding these sites?
Hello Richard, thanks for watching. Hopefully, you were able to capture some great images during your trip to South America was ......alex
Excellent video detailed archeological study. Please do some other Indian village sites. Indian grinding rock huge Indian city thousands of people worth reviewing thanks
How long would those mortars had to have been used to become that large? It seems like they would have had to been used for many years to become so deep.
1 1/2 year.
depends on type of rock. If it's sandstone, not so long.
That is so awesome! I was looking for you to point out a mortar. It didn't take long. Lol
i know that site. i grew up within hiking distance of mt diablo. beautiful area. that site also offers advance notice of anyone approaching.
Interesting hypotheses and suspensions. What is your background in these areas other than a hobbyist and interest? Judging from the number of Mortises how big was the group/tribe was it and who were they.
Great videos
With the mortars, is it possible to tell how many generations were there according to their size and depth?
When I walked to school in the late 1950 to early 1960's in Carpinteria, in Santa Barbara County. I would walk by a natural tar pit, much like the one at the famous La Brea tar pit. Years later upon returning to view, a developer had built over it. Sad lost natural history,
another great video, Thank you Alex
Ron, thanks for watching.............alex
@@storiesbyalex sorry Alex, its Roy.
@@RoysAdventures1 My apologies.......................alex
@@storiesbyalex No problem . have a wonderful day. :-)
A lot of people were helping prepare the food. Is that near Mt Diablo? Great video! I'm in Northern California. Did you say that was a known tribe? Ssoan it said? I have done extensive research from mendocino North especially my local region of Humboldt and Trinity Counties . I've discovered A lot of things, very ancient burial mounds etc. I have many things to share. I'm excited to find your channel! I'm subscribed my friend!
Joe Bob, thanks for watching and your comments. Yes, that site is East of Mt Diablo.............................alex
Great video,Thanks
Man I wanna go on a hike with you i have an obsession with historical land sites
The boulders with the small and evenly distributed holes remind me very much of the Hawaiian petroglyph fields where they buried the umbilical cords of their babies in family groups with a figure of a person so it looks like mom, dad and all the children they had. Did they carry the pestles for the mortar holes with them?
California is full of ancient history. I currently live in Northern California close to the Paradise area. I see hints all over of potential ancient civilizations.
I think those pits in the rock are for fire ..maybe using oil or tar to keep away predators at night ,it seems unlikely they would have that many spread out like that.
Funny, I am currently working on such a problem in topic. 💓
Hey Alex Great vid.. im way behind on vids lately., trying to limit screen time.., ??? Did you need a guide to go to those Petroglyphs @ pyramid lake
Hello Tuledude, good to hear from you and thanks for watching the video. Regarding Pyramid lake I had a friend of mine take me there as he had visited the site years ago. I am not sure that I would be able to find it again. If you need more information send me an email at: alex@storiesbyalex.com
So awesome 👌
That area is really beautiful! I would love to setup my Wickiup there 😀
Thanks for watching. How was your recent trek out West?.....................alex
@@storiesbyalex Alex .. I had some Jeep issues :-) and had to head back after reaching Tucson (and cut back on New Mexico). Once I get her back, I am heading to Gila once again. Happy Thanksgiving to you! I think a video is overdue from your side .. LOL. You know that we are always looking forward to new ones!
Well done MWM
Very cool
I never thought about it before, but every time I've come across grind holes they almost always have rainwater in them. It makes me wonder if the natives kept them covered when not in use?
Always wondered if oil or fat could be placed there and provide cool looking illumination ?
As a Californian, very impressed with the research and filming. So many holes in the stone identified as mortars, of all different sizes and in a few cases it looks like on the sides of stones. I wonder if there was some other reason for the holes?
Alex called those cupolas here. as I recall those are thought of as petroglyphic and not for working grain like mortars.
Yes, cupules were ground into large boulders by women ceremonially for conceiving children and to a lesser degree healing.
I find sites like that in northern Michigan alot!
I think you are closer to the date with the 10K mark. Are there any other petroglyphs other than Cupules? I watched the first video when you went to "The Rocks". They look like Cupules or Dots from the 32 ancient Ice Age symbols.
Many thanks
I just need to express how this stirs me to be out looking for these signs here in Idaho
Michael, thanks for watching. It's out there if you do your research - good luck...............alex
I wonder if some of those holes weren’t used for soaking acorns to remove tannins. 151 for one of two adjacent sites seems excessive.
The holes were used to align the stones in a wall [(0)] Horizontally
Anyone who thinks these are morter holes needs to check out WISE UP on RUclips.
Baskets were used to leach acorns not stone holes. I am not an expert but I am a member of a Sonoma County Pomo tribe.
@@richardholmes2268 Sorry, just not true and I can prove it. In Ohlone Wilderness Area as well as all over the Sierra, there are leach lines leading to lower holes over and over again to leach out tannin.
@@richardholmes2268 I'm also Creek and Cherokee bro.
In my youth I had come across at least a couple of areas that had perfectly circular holes in the boulders just like those in this video....and they held an obvious uniqueness that made them stand out from the surroundings. At the time I had no idea, but after watching this and other videos it all makes perfect sense now. Amazing! If only I could remember exactly where they were!
Very cool I was wondering why they had so many mortars without any trees there had to have been trees there at one time the first thing I noticed before you got into the video was a rock with a mortar hole
They would dry and store acorns for months after harvesting them so they dry probably just brought them along when they came to this spot
That's about 90 miles away from me, I can see that mountain everyday.
I have a question, at around the 6:07 mark you showed a "buckeye" what is it ?
It kind of looks like a oak gall.
I tried to look it up but all I got was a sports team and butterflies 🤷
Thank you Alex 🙋
Pamela, thanks for watching. The Buckeye nut is from he tree species Aesculus glabra is commonly known as Ohio buckeye, American buckeye, or fetid buckeye. ......................alex
Is this the Central Valley Alex? Beautiful video
Jeremy, thanks for watching. The area is located near Livermore......................alex
You're so cool 🤯 my mind is blown :0
Do you think each woman grinding corn had her own mortar, or did they share mortars? Would the number of mortars equal the size of the tribe or do the mortars come from all different years? An average civilization lasts about 900 years, so does that mean there could have been many civilizations living at this site and the Maidu or Shoshone were just the latest? And when the mortars get as big a bowls does that mean they've just been used for so long that they expand outward?
cool video I live in Sacramento any good areas around me to fo look that you know of
thank you
What kinds of foods were they preparing in the mortars?
Those some pretty big mortars🤔 they look more like worked building stones with joints to hold them In place.. like at the other ancient sites. The people that last inhabited the sight would probably say they found it like that..
If a mano is found that is literally shiny on the "grip" portion from hand wear, would one consider it is likely more ancient, even if found above ground?
I have a screenshot of something I think you missed on one of your videos. Not sure how to show it to you. The screenshot shows a much larger circle around the already large rock circle with the grinding slick in the center. This is where the Puebelos built on the very top of the lookout. When your drone shot goes above the stone circle there is a much larger circle(kind of oval) of vegetation and it's definitely man made somehow.
So they made an excessive amount of amazing, deep, steep and perfectly round holes, but they lived in straw huts? Ancient megalithic site. Wow man. Thanks for taking us with you !
Thank you
Thanks for watching.................alex
The rock with the small holes is a nutting stone fir cracking acorns before grinding
Can't help but think that some of the holes were ground out to place sticks in as shelter supports.
I know A few sites in California at least five totally different sites, none listed here-
but all in Placer County, California❤️
Julie, Thanks for watching the series. If you are willing to share these sites I can be contacted via email at alex@storiesbyalex.com. Looking forward to hearing from you...…...alex
I would have to take you there - I can’t give directions really bc I don’t know the road names, but I’d be totally open to taking you🌹
2 sites in Meadow Vista and two in Cool (Chinese walls, high caves and mortars)
@@MedicalSkillsTraining Hello Julie, thanks for the reply can we communicate via our emails. Mine is alex@storiesbyalex.com. Perhaps, you can describe the site in Meadow Vista. I took a look at the map and is seems to be somewhat of a residential area adjacent to Lake Combie. Anyway, looking forward to hearing from you.
Lots of grinding mortars what were they for?
Tommy, thanks for watching. Mortars were primarily used to pound acorns and other seeds or nuts into a flour like substance....................alex
Sweet !
Wesley, thanks for watching..............alex
Wickiup in Windsor Ca?
Okaaayyy... at beginning of video at the first flat terrace how did they make those holes into rock???
do you know anything about the lassics?!