Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park is a California State Park, preserving an outcropping of marbleized limestone with some 1,185 mortar holes—the largest collection of bedrock mortars in North America. It is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, 8 miles (13 km) east of Jackson. The park is nestled in a little valley 2,400 feet (732 m) above sea level, with open meadows and large specimens of valley oak that once provided the Miwok peoples of this area with an ample supply of acorns.[2] The 135-acre (55 ha) park was established in 1962[3] and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
The native name for the site is "Chaw’se", the Miwok word for "grinding rock". Upon this rock they ground acorns and other seeds into meal, slowly forming the cup-shaped depressions in the stone, which can still be seen today. Along with the mortar holes, the main grinding rock within the park features a number of petroglyphs: circles, spoked wheels, animal and human tracks, wavy lines, etc. Some of these carvings are thought to be as much as two or three thousand years old and are now becoming difficult to discern. This association of rock art and bedrock mortar pits is unique in California. Except for one other small site, Chaw'se has the only known occurrence of mortars intentionally decorated with petroglyphs.[4]
This museum within the park grounds features a variety of exhibits and a vast collection of Sierra Nevada Indian artifacts. A Miwok village complete with a ceremonial roundhouse has been reconstructed in the middle of the small valley and is registered as California Historical Landmark #1001.[5] The museum has been designed to reflect the architecture of the traditional roundhouse. Exhibited in this two-story museum are examples of the technology and crafts of the Miwok and other Sierra Nevada Native American groups. As a regional Indian museum, the collection at Chaw'se includes exhibits on various tribal groups, including: the Northern, Central and Southern Miwok, Maidu, Konkow, Monache, Nisenan, Tubatulabal, Washoe, and Foothill Yokuts.[2]
^ abcd. California State Parks. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
^"California State Park System Statistical Report: Fiscal Year 2009/10" (PDF). California State Parks: 18. Retrieved July 3, 2012. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^Fullwood, Janet (May 3, 1998). "Miwoks' less-than-golden fate recalled at park". Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, Calif. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
^"California Historical Landmarks: Amador County". Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
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Official Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park website
December 15, 2023
indian, grinding, rock, state, historic, park, california, state, park, preserving, outcropping, marbleized, limestone, with, some, mortar, holes, largest, collection, bedrock, mortars, north, america, located, sierra, nevada, foothills, miles, east, jackson, . Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park is a California State Park preserving an outcropping of marbleized limestone with some 1 185 mortar holes the largest collection of bedrock mortars in North America It is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills 8 miles 13 km east of Jackson The park is nestled in a little valley 2 400 feet 732 m above sea level with open meadows and large specimens of valley oak that once provided the Miwok peoples of this area with an ample supply of acorns 2 The 135 acre 55 ha park was established in 1962 3 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 Indian Grinding Rock State Historic ParkRock outcrop with mortar holesShow map of CaliforniaShow map of the United StatesLocationAmador County CaliforniaNearest cityPine Grove CaliforniaCoordinates38 25 27 N 120 38 36 W 38 42417 N 120 64333 W 38 42417 120 64333Area135 acres 55 ha Established1962Governing bodyCalifornia Department of Parks and RecreationIndian Grinding RockU S National Register of Historic PlacesArea264 acres 106 8 ha NRHP reference No 71000133 1 Added to NRHPMay 06 1971The native name for the site is Chaw se the Miwok word for grinding rock Upon this rock they ground acorns and other seeds into meal slowly forming the cup shaped depressions in the stone which can still be seen today Along with the mortar holes the main grinding rock within the park features a number of petroglyphs circles spoked wheels animal and human tracks wavy lines etc Some of these carvings are thought to be as much as two or three thousand years old and are now becoming difficult to discern This association of rock art and bedrock mortar pits is unique in California Except for one other small site Chaw se has the only known occurrence of mortars intentionally decorated with petroglyphs 4 Contents 1 Chaw se Regional Indian Museum 2 Wildlife 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksChaw se Regional Indian Museum editThis museum within the park grounds features a variety of exhibits and a vast collection of Sierra Nevada Indian artifacts A Miwok village complete with a ceremonial roundhouse has been reconstructed in the middle of the small valley and is registered as California Historical Landmark 1001 5 The museum has been designed to reflect the architecture of the traditional roundhouse Exhibited in this two story museum are examples of the technology and crafts of the Miwok and other Sierra Nevada Native American groups As a regional Indian museum the collection at Chaw se includes exhibits on various tribal groups including the Northern Central and Southern Miwok Maidu Konkow Monache Nisenan Tubatulabal Washoe and Foothill Yokuts 2 Wildlife editBird life varies depending on the season but many species are seen year round including turkey vultures California scrub and Steller s jays California quail acorn and hairy woodpeckers northern flickers hermit thrushes wild turkeys non native and California thrashers In summer the bright colors of the western tanager northern oriole calliope and Anna s hummingbirds can be seen in the woods around the meadow 2 Animal life in and around the park includes deer fox gray and California ground squirrels black tailed jackrabbits bobcats bats and occasionally a mountain lion or black bear Coyote calls can be heard on quiet summer nights 2 nbsp Visitor center overview of park nbsp Chaw Se building nbsp nbsp close up of grinding holes nbsp Roundhouse interior nbsp nbsp Sculpture at parkSee also editList of California state parksReferences edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service March 13 2009 a b c d Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park California State Parks Archived from the original on July 1 2012 Retrieved July 3 2012 California State Park System Statistical Report Fiscal Year 2009 10 PDF California State Parks 18 Retrieved July 3 2012 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Fullwood Janet May 3 1998 Miwoks less than golden fate recalled at park Sacramento Bee Sacramento Calif Retrieved July 3 2012 California Historical Landmarks Amador County Office of Historical Preservation California State Parks Retrieved October 6 2012 This article contains material from the California Department of Parks and Recreation which unless otherwise indicated is in the public domain External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park Official Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park amp oldid 1169118731, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
