Visiting the Kumeyaay Ancestors

Today was an incredible day. We started by saying goodbye to a new friend Heather and walking across the desert with Susan for breakfast at the Red Ocotillo with the dogs. They chased bunnies and birds with never the least chance of catching them. On the way back Anna picked up a ball of cactus in her foot, not once but twice. I later had one in my leg. Big Ouch for Anna, small ouch for me. 

After a short rest our friend Susan, whom we are visiting, took us to a special and secret place. There are many, many places in Anza Borrego where there is evidence of the Kumeyaay and Cahuilla peoples who lived in this land. The Cahuilla lived to the north of Borrego Springs but we headed south for a hike in new (to us) territory. It is identified as culturally sensitive and for that reason while public, those who find historical sites are asked to leave everything intact and to keep the location secret. And of course to honor the ones who went before by not disturbing any relics. Along the way we admired the geology. The seams in the soft granite go for 100 feet, long after the rock has worn away.

We went without any expectation of finding anything. But we were incredibly fortunate to find evidence of a settlement or resting spot on the trail from low to high country.  The first finding was a small pottery shard, the  photo taken with my toe for perspective on its size.

There were hundreds of shards! At first they seemed rare and hard to see, soon we saw them everywhere. We saw 3 colors the deep khaki  above, a light tan and almost black. The largest shards we found were two in a pack rat's nest. It was one of the hardest things we have done, but one of the very best, to leave everything in place that we saw. Acquisitiveness is not unique to ravens and pack rats! 

I accomplished something today that I have wanted to do for my whole life. I grew up next to the Tuscarora First People's Reservation. I have always wanted to find an arrowhead and today  I did. They are properly called projectile points. This is small, blue green in color, probably obsidian. We marked its location with our GPS so that Susan can tell the archaeologists, and set it back on the ground. Kyber watch my every move. Keepin' me honest.....
The next find was the cave.  

It was large enough to hold a couple of folks in a storm. The circular marks (cupule petroglyphs) outside are believed to be ceremonial in nature.
Susan was searching for morteros. These are the deep yet small in diameter holes that are evidence of food processing and grinding. She was highly successful, finding  many.

Yes that is poop. Coyote evidently like to use them as their personal toilets!

We headed back to the car and ultimately to the house having thanked the ancestors for sharing their home with us. The privilege of  being led here - this was an area where we could have chosen many other avenues of exploration- and then of being able to see and touch what hands many hundreds or possibly 1000 years ago had made was incomparable. We are all tired and quiet tonight, still absorbing the experience. To have this as one of the last experiences of the road trip is remarkable. I will have a palpable memory of gratitude on this coming Thursday: the day set aside to celebrate the generosity and kindnesss of the indigenous people of this land toward the emigrants of England. Would that the English had been able to learn those values rather than live in fear of those who were so different than themselves.

Those who are interested can read about a similar site here: file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Leslie%20Cragin/Desktop/Aboriginal%20Settlement%20in%20Mine%20Wash,%20Anza-Borrego%20Desert%20State%20Park.htm

With love and respect to all,


Leslie, Renee and Susan
Borrego Springs, CA