Our Mission Indian The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and “ education of the people of California by helping t was the Indians’ Grinding Rock to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological I diversity, protecting its most valued natural and way to pass through State Historic Park cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. a country without disturbing anything; to pass and leave California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who no trace, like a fish need assistance should contact the park at (209) 296-7488. This publication can be through the water or made available in alternate formats. Contact [email protected] or call (916) 654-2249. birds through the air.”

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS — Willa Cather P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service

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Discover the many states of California.™ Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park Chaw’se Regional Indian Museum 14881 Pine Grove-Volcano Road Pine Grove, CA 95665 (209) 296-7488 www.parks.ca.gov/igr

© 2002 California State Parks (Rev. 2011) I ndian Grinding Rock State Historic America. Except for one other small site, Park is located in the Sierra Nevada Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park has foothills, eight miles east of Jackson. The the only known occurrence of mortars park is nestled in a small valley 2,400 feet intentionally decorated with petroglyphs. above sea level with open meadows and large valley oaks that once provided Native The marble grinding rock is fragile and very Americans with an ample supply of acorns. susceptible to weathering and chipping. The The 135-acre park preserves a great natural elements are claiming many of the outcropping of marbleized limestone with petroglyphs, so please stay off the rock and 1,185 mortar holes—the largest collection of respect this irreplaceable reminder of bedrock mortars anywhere in North indigenous Miwok culture. America. Trails make it easy to explore the meadows and surrounding forest. The HISTORY Chaw’se Regional Indian Museum features The Miwok a variety of exhibits and an outstanding The Northern Sierra Miwok, who settled in this Bark house museum exhibit collection of Sierra Nevada Indian artifacts. area many centuries ago, established their A Miwok village and roundhouse have villages alongside the rivers and streams of women while men trapped, fished and been reconstructed in the middle of the Sierra Nevada— from the Cosumnes hunted. All resources were portioned the valley. River on the north to the Mokelumne so they would continue to be River on the south. Other Miwok available, and little or nothing was The Grinding Rock and groups lived to the west as far as Petroglyphs wasted. For example, a plant called Mount Diablo and as far south as soap root was mashed and used not Chaw’se is the Miwok word for the Yosemite National Park. only as soap, but also to stun and mortar cups that formed in a stone The Miwok had a detailed catch fish. Its leaves were eaten fresh, slab as the Miwok people pounded understanding of the resources and the bulb could be baked and acorns and other seed into meal. available to them, passing this eaten. The dried, fibrous leaves were The largest chaw’se example can be knowledge down from generation to bundled and used as a brush. seen at the park. The main grinding generation. Deer were the most Acorns, the mainstay of the Miwok rock also features 363 petroglyphs— important animal resource, and all diet, were gathered in autumn, dried including circles, animal and human parts were utilized. The meat was and stored in large granaries (cha’kas) tracks, and wavy lines. Some of used for food; clothing was made made of poles interwoven with slender these carvings are thought to be from the hide. Antlers, bones and brush stems. Resembling large baskets, as old as two or three thousand hooves were used for tools and the cha’kas were thatched with short years; they are now becoming instruments, and the brain was boughs of white fir or incense cedar to difficult to see. This association used to tan hide. shed snow and rain and then lined with of rock art and bedrock mortar Plant foods were generally pine needles and wormwood to repel pits is unique in North Sculpture of Miwok dancer collected and processed by insects and rodents. Acorns are rich in nutrition, but because they that belonged to the group. Because each the property belonged to the Else family, who contain a lot of tannin, they are bitter to the territory encompassed several ecological grew barley and other grain crops, raised taste. To make them edible, the Miwok cracked habitats, the village could be reasonably sure cattle and planted an orchard. The small and shelled them, and placed the acorn meat in that its needs for food, clothing and shelter stream that runs through the park is still the mortar holes (chaw’se) in the large flat would be met. known as Else Creek. limestone outcropping in the meadow to be The Gold Rush William Blakely acquired the property in pounded with a stone pestle to the texture of The annual cycle of native life that revolved the 1870s. In the late 1880s, he sold about fine meal. The Miwok took the meal to the around the little meadow was dramatically 160 acres to Serafino Scapuccino. Scapuccino creekside and poured water through the meal to altered by James Marshall’s discovery of gold tended the orchard, raised cattle and at Coloma in January 1848. Miners poured developed a truck garden. He is said to have welcomed the Miwok, who sometimes into this area, forcing the Miwok out of their camped in the meadow, gathered acorns and traditional patterns of residence and held ceremonial events at the old village subsistence. Prospectors and both site. He also put a fence around the “great hydraulic and quartz mining operations rock” to protect it. eventually surrounded the area. Mine After Scapuccino’s death, his family tailings can still be seen today in the continued to hold title to the property until park’s ravines. the 1950s. At this time the surviving Though mining was the dominant members, James and Serafino, Jr., became economic activity in this area during the concerned that development pressures 1850s, agricultural enterprises were also would eventually destroy the scenic, Reconstructed Miwok village attempted. Several farms and ranches were historical and archaeological value of the established in the area, with one of the first leach out the tannin. The prepared meal was meadow and its unique bedrock mortars. A located in the meadow area of the present- mixed with water in a large, watertight cooking friend suggested that it might be possible to day park. In June 1852, one miner wrote in basket. Hot rocks were added to the acorn mush preserve the site as a state park, an idea his diary, “They are mowing their grass and or soup and moved around with paddles until that found immediate support in the barley on the flat and offered me $3 a the acorn meal was cooked. nearby town of Volcano. day to mow.” The diarist declined this The Miwok also caught fish and hunted game A campaign to save the site was throughout the hills. The climate was agreeable, offer and hastened to nearby Volcano, launched, and in 1958 the State the water supply reliable, and many good village where a miner’s wage was $6 a day. of California acquired 48.5 acres sites were available. Commodities that could not Reminders of early-day Amador of the Scapuccino property. be found locally could often be obtained through County ranching and farming activity The site was formally trade with neighboring groups. are dotted throughout the park, dedicated as a state park in The village was the primary political unit in including a farmhouse and 1968 and was placed on the Miwok life, though alliances were likely to exist outbuildings, a garden National Register of Historic between villages. Village size varied from two site, orchards, livestock Places in 1973. dozen individuals to as many as several pond sites and other hundred. Each village had a specific territory traces of farm life. By 1868 the fire pit to escape and also permits some The collection at Chaw’se includes Northern, observation of the night sky. Central and Southern Miwok, Maidu, Konkow, Miwok homes ranged from eight to fifteen Monache, Nisenan, Tubatulabal, Washo and feet in diameter and were built of cedar poles Foothill Yokuts. Examples of basketry, feather interwoven with grapevines or willow and regalia, jewelry, arrow points and other tools covered with cedar bark. A hole was left at the are on display. Hours at the museum vary top to vent smoke from cooking or heating seasonally. For current hours, visit www.parks. fires. Bark houses u’macha( ) can be seen near ca.gov/igr or call (209) 296-7488. the grinding rock and also at the The nonprofit Chaw’se Association operates Hun’ge—The Roundhouse reconstructed village west of the Roundhouse. a sales area, where visitors may purchase A game field (poscoi a we’a) has also been books, posters, postcards and educational Today’s Park reconstructed near the Roundhouse. One game items. Lectures, videos and demonstrations at The Village and Roundhouse played by the Miwok was very similar to soccer. the museum provide insights into Native Development in the park emphasizes the On a field about 110 yards long, players tried to American life in the Sierra region. aboriginal importance of the site. A reconstructed kick or carry a ball to the opposing team’s goal. Fauna Both men and women played, though the rules Miwok village provides present-day descendants Though the park is small, it offers many of the Miwok with an opportunity to preserve their were different for each. Men could only kick the opportunities to observe wildlife. Oak heritage and traditions and share them with future ball, while women could handle the ball in any woodlands and mixed pine forest provide a generations of Californians. Bark houses, a manner. However, if a woman held the ball, a man wide variety of habitats, much as they did ceremonial roundhouse, acorn granaries, shade could pick her up and run for the goal. ramadas, an Indian game field, and demonstrations Big Time of old arts, crafts and games all combine to Several times each year, ceremonies are held in illustrate the past. California State Parks has an the hun’ge by local Native Americans. In ongoing commitment to collaborate with the local September, Indian families meet at the park for Native Americans in park development. the annual acorn gathering ceremonies (Big Time). The Roundhouse (hun’ge) is the setting for Dancing, hand games, singing and storytelling are various social gatherings and ceremonial events. traditional activities. Spectators are welcome, but The Miwok traditionally held ceremonies here to there is no fixed schedule of events. Native pray, to mourn the dead, or to observe special American crafts and foods are available. occasions through music and dance. In a typical village, this semi-subterranean community center Chaw’se Regional Indian Museum was the largest building and tended to be The two-story Chaw’se Regional Indian Museum between 20 and 50 feet in diameter. The Indian has been designed to reflect the architecture of Grinding Rock State Historic Park hun’ge is 60 feet the traditional roundhouse. Outstanding examples across — one of the largest in California. Four of the technology and crafts of the Miwok and massive beams and center poles support the roof. other Sierra Nevada Native American groups are A hole in the center of the roof allows smoke from exhibited in the museum. Miwok dancers Flora Camping More than 130 species of native plants The park is open seasonally. Visit have been identified in the park, many of www.parks.ca.gov/igr for current hours. which were used by the Miwok. Each of 23 campsites has paved parking Spring brings an incredible variety (trailers/motor homes are limited to 27 feet of wildflowers to the Sierra foothills. long), tables, food lockers, fire rings, piped Flowering plants include water and restrooms with flush toilets and monkeyflower, giant trillium, shooting showers. Wood gathering is not allowed, but star, several species of lupine, California firewood may be purchased at the park. farewell-to-spring, harvest brodiaea, Quail Campsites are first-come, first-served. Humboldt lily, western buttercup, Environmental Living /Group Camping mariposa lily, Hartweg’s iris, showy phlox, wild Camping in the bark houses to the north rose, mountain violet, filaree, yellow star flower (U’macha’tam’ma’) is a unique opportunity to and baby blue eyes. get back in touch with the natural world while Weather learning something about Miwok life. Seven The Sierra foothills experience warm, dry bark houses, each one suitable for up to six summers and cool, moist winters. Summer people, have been constructed in a secluded Chaw’se Regional Indian Museum temperatures exceed 90 degrees. Winter brings area of the park. They can be reserved for a an occasional snowfall. group of up to 44 people. The camping is when the Miwok lived here. Bird life includes primitive; you must haul water, supplies and Steller’s jays, California quail, acorn and hairy RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES equipment two hundred yards or more from woodpeckers, northern flickers, hermit Trails the parking area. However, your experience thrushes and California thrashers. In summer There are two developed trails in the park. The will be unforgettable. the bright colors of western tanagers, northern North Trail, a one-mile round trip, starts near the orioles, calliopes and Anna’s hummingbirds museum. It traverses the ridge surrounding the can be seen in the forest near the museum. A meadow, crosses the creek, passes by the old bird list is available at the museum. farm site and continues to the reconstructed Animal life includes deer, foxes, black- Miwok village site. There it joins the half-mile tailed jackrabbits, bobcats, and occasionally a South Nature Trail, a self-guided loop that starts mountain lion or black bear. The legendary near the Roundhouse. A trail guide describes the coyote — the trickster of Miwok stories — can ethnobotany of the area, identifying some of the be heard “singing” on quiet summer nights. plants that were used by the Miwok.

Soap root Picnicking Near the grinding rock, a picnic area with a shade ramada can accommodate groups of up to 150. Reservations for the picnic area are not necessary. There is also a small picnic area next to the museum. Please do not use campsites for picnicking. Accessible viewing platform Group camping reservations may be made up to six months in advance by mail, by calling (209) 296-7488, or by visiting www.parks.ca.gov/igr for applications. accessible features • Camping—One accessible family campsite and one restroom are accessible. • Picnicking—Tables are generally easy to access. • Exhibits—There is easy access to the restrooms, into the Indian Museum, around exhibits and to the viewing platform at the Grinding Rock. A video is also available. This park receives support in part through a nonprofit Accessibility is continually organization. For more information, contact: improving. Call (916) 445-8949 Chaw’se Association for updates or visit P.O. Box 1458, Pine Grove, CA 95665 http://access.parks.ca.gov. (209) 296-8045

please remember • All natural and cultural features are protected by law and may not be disturbed nor removed. • Notify park staff of the location of any found objects. Nearby State Parks • Like the grinding rock itself, the meadow at • Calaveras Big Trees State Park Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park is 1170 East Highway 4, Arnold 95223 (209)795-2334 fragile. Stay on the trails. • Columbia State Historic Park • Park regulations prohibit the consumption 11255 Jackson Street, Columbia 95310 (209) 588-9128 of alcoholic beverages except by campers in • Railtown 1897 State Historic Park the campground. Off Highway 108 and Reservoir Road at Fifth Avenue, Jamestown 95327 (209) 984-3953