Artifact of the Week: Donut Stones
A very unique object found at La Jolla Tradition sites is donut stones. These are finely crafted tools that must have required hours of work. The exact use of donut stones is unknown. It is thought that these were used…
Artifact of the Week: Grinding Tools
Grinding tools of granitic stone were common for the Late Prehistoric Tradition. Local inhabitants used them to grind clay in preparation for pottery, acorns, and other foodstuffs. About 3,500 years ago, the region experienced a long period of widespread drought,…
Artifact of the Week: Stone Bowl-Mortar
Stone bowl mortars were the perfect tool for processing acorns, which had to be pounded into a meal and rinsed to remove bitter tannin. Mortars were also carved into bedrock near oak trees. Bowl mortars were more portable and could…
Artifact of the Week: Bone Awls
The people of the Late Prehistoric Tradition used bone awls to make holes in leather for clothing and in basketmaking. They made most bone awls from the delicate leg bones of deer sharpened to a point. Technologically, the people of…
