China Wall – Danville

China Wall
Macedo Ranch – Danville.

Save Mount Diablo holds their annual Moonlight on the Mountain fundraiser here but we’ll bet very few people are aware of the distinct, unusual, 4 Bedrock Mortar rock tucked right into the wall.

Great views of the mountain and Castle Rock.

Possible ceremonial site in ancient times.

One of the deepest mortars we’ve ever encountered. Not used for pounding acorns.

Contemplate, Meditate, Consecrate.

Take a picnic, take a book, take a guitar, take a nap, take some kids.

Mt Diablo State Park

 

 

Start here and follow the middle trail up the hill to the gap and around the corner.
An easy 40 minute hike with 300-400 foot climb.

 

You can get there from Castle Rock Park too.
Come up Pine Creek to the top of the little Yosemite Trail.

 

The mortar hole is quite deep.

 

The fires indicate important remaining Native American Indian Sites and
the number of bedrock mortars we have found at each site.

For our full Bay Area GoogleEarth map click here. https://eastbayhillpeople.com/eastbayhillpeople/Map/

 

Lynch Canyon – Fairfield

Lynch Canyon – Solano County Land Trust.

This rare gem of a hike is right off Interstate 80 between American Canyon and Cordelia.

45 minutes tops to this site on foot.

Our GoogleEarth map shows 51 Bedrock Mortars but we’ve found more now. 58.

Feel the continued presence of the people who lived here. Take a picnic, take a book, take a nap, take a friend.

 

Start here. Right now it’s only open 9-5 Friday to Monday.

 

Take the Lynch Road Trail to Middle Valley Trail.

 

Go down the Tower Trail, through the gate, and into the trees and rocks to the left.

 

Heather studies a unique bowl.

 

There are 21 nice mortars on this rock and 37 on the spot next to it. A village site. Possibly
for thousands of years.

 

Nice to see an acknowledgement of the Native American history in this park.
Visitors? We think they lived here.

 

The numbers indicate the bedrock mortars we have found at each site.

To view our complete Bay Area map click on
https://eastbayhillpeople.com/eastbayhillpeople/Map/

Alder Spring – Redwood City

Russian Ridge Preserve – Redwood City.

This easy 1/2 hour jaunt from your car is well worth it.

Our latest bedrock mortar count on this one rock is 35. All shapes and sizes. On a nice little shelf above the creek which still has water in it in September.

 

Take the Charquin Trail down the hill

 

Turn right onto Alder Spring Trail. Go over the creek and maybe 50 yards further find a rarely used social trail off to the left.

 

Contemplate. Meditate. Consecrate.

 

Good seating still available.

 

The fires indicate important remaining Native American Indian sites

To view our complete Bay area Google Earth map go to
www.eastbayhillpeople.com/Map

 

Ring Mountain 2 – Corte Madera

Ring Mountain – Corte Madera.

Single Bedrock Mortar.

This is a nice 5 minute walk from your care. School kids in Marin come here with their classes.

Take the Loop Trail off the Phyliss Ellman Trail then take the little social trail
on the left down to the creek.

Take a picnic, take a book, take a guitar, take a nap, take some kids.

Start Here:

 

The rock with shell midden in front. Proof that every single remaining
bedrock mortar is important.

 

The shell midden runs down to the creek. They weren’t grinding acorns here folks.

 

This beautiful bowl had a purpose unique to this site.

 

The fires indicate important remaining Native American Indian sites.

To view our complete Bay Area GoogleEarth Map click on
https://eastbayhillpeople.com/eastbayhillpeople/Map/

 

To whom it may concern:

The coordinated, calculated, clandestine policy of suppressing knowledge of Native American Indian sites is to my mind an injustice that needs to be corrected.

As a starting point to change this culture, which I feel materially diminishes the importance of our shared California history and heritage, I am posting short articles on the attached Travelogue/Blog at www.eastbayhillpeople.com.

I believe the public needs to experience these sites in order to understand their importance and relevance to our lives today.

As for the potential “vandals” that seem to so concern those opposed to my efforts, at least they can be prosecuted for their crimes when discovered, unlike those development interests who destroy these sites with permission from all the “stakeholder” agencies involved.

The greatest threat I perceive to these sensitive locations is ignorance and bulldozers, not necessarily in that order.

yours truly,

James Benney