Native American History |
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Petroglyphs and Pictographs:
Hospital Rock
Area 2
Other Areas Mortar Holes: Hospital Rock Area 2 Other Areas |
Petroglyphs and Pictographs
If you ask most of the ranges at Sequoia and Kings Canyon they will tell you there are not a lot of Native American artifacts. No pictographs or petroglyphs. If you press further, they may recall Hospital Rock, but no more. We were fortunate enough to find on ranger who gave us a little more information and for that we are thankful.
The historical sites in Sequoia are heavily 'white'. "The first man to ..." could be translated into "the first European American" so often. The feat of cutting down a big tree is a notable site, but the Native American culture has been neglected and forgotten in this park.
The greatest help to us comes from a book entitled Indians of Sequoia and Kings Canyon by A. B. Elsasser. It details discoveries and artifacts. It also includes a map of artifact sites, including pictograph sites, bedrock mortars, campsites and villages.
Hospital Rock
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This is the easiest site to get to. It is at a picnic area and is marked as 'Hospital Rock' on the park map that you receive when you pay admission. Though many people visit this site, it amazingly remains untouched by vandalism. It is a small site, but it might be all that anyone will ever see of Native American history in the park. |
Area 2
Other Area
Pictographs exist at the following locations in the park:
- Intersection of Marble Fork Kaweah River and Middle Fork Kaweah River (2 sites)
- Kern River Canyon near Coyote Pass
- Tehipite Valley
Mortar Holes
Look for Mortar Holes near oak trees. This is where they ground the acorns and then bathed them to get rid of the toxins.
Hospital Rock
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These holes are found near the pictographs at Hospital Rock. We walked towards the river and found them. |
Area 2
Other Areas
There are too many areas to list for locations of Mortar Holes. Some of the places are included in the long list:
- General Grant Grove (2 sites)
- Cedar Grove (5 sites)
- Giant Forest (5 sites)
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Last updated: August 9, 2001