Miwok Petroglyphs and Bedrock Mortars

Very nice .. before the dam was built, I spent some time up river from where you were and I saw stuff that that was interesting but I never investigated it like I should have, but 35 years later, it drives me crazy, the access is no longer available

Dan, I've done extensive research and exploration into the Stanauslaus Miwok hunting / fishing migration patterns and have found 8 Miwok sites that form a clear hunting/fishing summer migration pattern from Grinding Holes in Volcano all the way to Alpine Lake. I used Google Earth to find and mark these sites along streams leading to the Stan river and up to the high country. My theory is that the Miwoks chased their big game, (bears) up into bowls into the high country - up against the Dardenelles where they were taken down by several hunters. Your "find" is extremely unique in California as there is only one other site in our state that has both mortar grinding holes and petroglyphs in one site. The arrow shaped hopes are grinding holes but are more primitive than circular and are used where limited water is available to provide a leach effect. I have sites where actual leach lines have been etched into the granite leading from one hole to another, again where water was less available to utilize it more efficiently. The sites I have found have several "ovens" sleeping places, campfire rings and garbage mounds. I'd like to meet you. You're an explorer like me.

These are food preparation kitchens for native indijenous people up and down california into. Baja mexico i found some sites near newman ca near orestimba creek yokuts and ohlone people

History 101 - - This site fell into disuse after 1850. Any mining came after 1850.