Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park

Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park
Rock outcrop with mortar holes
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Location	Amador County, California
Nearest city	Pine Grove, California
Coordinates	38°25′27″N 120°38′36″W / 38.42417°N 120.64333°W / 38.42417; -120.64333
Area	135 acres (55 ha)
Established	1962
Governing body	California Department of Parks and Recreation


Indian Grinding Rock
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Area	264 acres (106.8 ha)
NRHP reference No.	71000133^[1]
Added to NRHP	May 06, 1971

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]

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Traveling deeper into central California, I turned in at Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park, just eight miles above Jackson. The area in and around the park was once home to tribes of northern Sierra Miwok people, Native Americans that established villages along side the rivers and streams in the Sierra Nevada’s. The mission of this 135 acre park is to preserve the history of the Miwok and other neighboring tribes, as well as the park’s most distinctive feature, the Indian Grinding Rock. Known to the Miwok as Chaw-se, this outcropping of marbleized lime stone contains over 1,200 mortar holes formed from grinding acorns and seeds. This Chaw-se is thought to be between two and three thousand years old, and is largest collection of bedrock mortars in North America. I found dawn an interesting time to explore the park. In the early morning quiet, it was easy to imagine a time when the valley was inhabited by Miwok families, as I watched the sun burn away the remnants of last night rainfall. Visitors can see a replica of a Miwok village while walking along the short trail that winds around the park. Miwok homes were built with cedar poles interwoven with grapevines or willow branches and covered with cedar bark. A hole was left at the top for smoke to escape from heating and cooking fires. The Round House here at Indian Grinding Rock is considered to be the largest in California. Important occasions and ceremonial events were celebrated in this impressive structure, and still are today. The history of the Native Americans that once lived here is interpreted in the Chaw-se Regional Indian Museum. Designed to reflect the architecture of the traditional Round House, the museum houses fine examples of basketry, regalia and tools. Helpful staff and volunteers give varied programs and demonstrations of Miwok crafts. For those who wish to camp, there is a small 23 site campground. Reservations are recommended. A covered picnic area is available for large groups who plan to visit for the day. Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park holds Native American cultural events at various times of the year. Call ahead to see what is scheduled.

Chaw'se Regional Indian Museum

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]

Wildlife

Bird 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]

Visitor center overview of park
Chaw-Se building
close up of grinding holes
Roundhouse interior
Sculpture at park

References

^ "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. {{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.

This article contains material from the California Department of Parks and Recreation which, unless otherwise indicated, is in the public domain.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park.

Official Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park website

Protected areas of California

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This page was last edited on 7 August 2023, at 05:05

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