Monday, August 10, 2009

FROM THE BEACH AT GUALALA POINT






















Yesterday I spoke with an old friend who has been finding Chumash markings on loose rocks and stones a few miles from the coast in Central California, and I was reminded of something I found in the early 1980's at the mouth of the Gualala River in Mendocino County in Northern California on what was once Pomo land. I am convinced that it is a tool with deliberate markings on it, but when I showed it to some professors and students at the local university they said they didn't think so. Here is a map showing the lands of the people who were the original residents of California.

Here are more views:






















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I can't imagine that I am the first person in the history of the world to have held this beautiful wedge-shaped tool.

7 comments:

Dawn said...

I am convinced!

mum said...

certainly look like intentional markings to me. A great find. Must have tons of stories inside it.

xx

The Solitary Walker said...

Well, it looks like an ancient decorated hand tool to me, but I'm no expert. Beautiful, though.

The Solitary Walker said...

Well, it looks like some ancient decorated hand tool to me, but I'm no expert. Beautiful, though.

(Word verification: 'singer')

robin andrea said...

It looks like it has intentional markings on it to me. Absolutely.

Anonymous said...

This is an incised stone, a type of object not uncommon in the American west, and certainly a good quantity of these have been found along the California coast. I'm an archaeologist who analyzed a large assemblage from Southern California. Your example should be examined by a curator at a local museum: I'd suggest calling the Mendocino County museum at (707) 459-2736.

am said...

Anonymous archaeologist -- Thank you for stopping by and for your affirming comment. I contacted the Mendocino County Museum this morning.