Gilroy in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Food Processing
Cocina
The sandstone outcroppings along the eastern terrace of Uvas Creek are ideal for creating bedrock mortars, grinding slabs (metates), and cupules. Key to the aid of processing large quantities of foods were mortars (stone bowls) and pestles (cylindrical rocks used to mash or pound). Although often associated with the crushing and processing of seeds and acorns, mortars and pestles were also used to process seeds, nuts, roots, meats, fish, and seaweed throughout the year. The presence of the year-round water resources of Uvas Creek and over 75 known bedrock mortars in the park indicates that this site could have supported a permanent village. This site contains one of the larger concentrations of bedrock mortars in California.
The illustration shows Ohlone women processing food in "hopper" mortars which utilized a basket with the bedrock mortar.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Native Americans • Parks & Recreational Areas • Women.
Location. 37° 1.837′ N, 121° 39.433′ W. Marker is in Gilroy, California, in Santa Clara County. Marker can be reached from Watsonville Road north of Burchell Road, on the left when traveling north. The marker is mounted to a metal stand on the trail below with parking lot of Chictactac-Adams Heritage County Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10001 Watsonville Road, Gilroy CA 95020, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A journey of a Lifetime (within shouting distance of this marker); School Days (within shouting distance of this marker); Uvas Creek (within shouting distance of this marker); Ohlone Buildings (within shouting distance of this marker); Chitactac-Adams Heritage County Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Arrival of the Spanish (within shouting distance of this marker); Rock Art (within shouting distance of this marker); Ranchos and Growth (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gilroy.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 16, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 12, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 137 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 12, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.