Grinding stones near Congress, AZ

[Terry Soloman]

I'm not sure of the Havasupai name for these, but I think it is a grinding stone.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector, Waterproof Gold Detector, Pinpoint & Terrain Modes, Professional Metal Detector - Grab it through Amazon!

[crj1968]

Nice....you just came across them on a hike, or it's a known area?

 

[Old Pueblo]

They're bedrock mortars, probably prehistoric. You see a lot of them here in southern AZ. Cool find. The rock art is awesome too.


This is one I found just the other day out in the borderlands along Arivaca Creek.

 

[Old Pueblo]

Here are some more bedrock mortar pics ive taken over the past few years. These are from the ancient Hohokam period (c.1450 and back to some point I dont remember)

 

[Tnmountains]

Nice ones. Shows the site was inhabited a long time. Am sure artifacts are plenty if on private land.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Just out hiking. The area in and around the Weaver Mountains is rich in native American history.

 

[Old Pueblo]

I dont know about the place at the top, but the two places I took photos of below are known sites on public land. Huerfano Butte has been visited by many, and youd be luck if you see even a pottery sherd laying around. The other place is Colossal Cave, and the nearby Indian village was excavated. You can see some pottery sherds here and there, but nothing else really. Although I havent looked much. You see it along the trails though.

 

[Old Pueblo]

Im sure there are tons of treasures underneath the ground, though.

 

[Tnmountains]

Just out hiking. The area in and around the Weaver Mountains is rich in native American history.

For some reason I can see you with a Tesoro and gold pan strapped to your back!!!

 

[Terry Soloman]

Here are a few more shots from the same area.

 

[Old Pueblo]

This is another bedrock mortar site out in the desert a little closer to home. For years people used it as their own little firing range, which is evident by the amount of bullets and casings and broken class strewn everywhere. There was a few pieces of plain brown pottery mixed in, nothing special. And a few years ago some little thugs spray painted their names on the overhanging rock you see at the right. They were arrested and had to remove their grafitti, I think with a sand blaster or something, because there are little pieces of painted rock all over the place.

 

[Old Pueblo]

The bedrock mortars appear undamaged, though. Theyre very deep here. Ive never found a pestle laying around. They were probably carted off years ago or are still buried in the desert below.

 

[Old Pueblo]

Closeup of Huerfano Butte Petroglyphs

 

[crj1968]

Looks like a very cool place...I must go sometime.

We have similar petroglyphs here in Idaho, on what appears to be the same type of rock. Seems no one knows what they mean, if anything....

 

[Old Pueblo]

Some more rock art along the San Pedro River near Tombstone, AZ.

 

[Old Pueblo]

If you come to Southern AZ, you must see Sabino Canyon in Tucson, AZ (The Old Pueblo). Its one of the most beautiful places around. There are bedrock mortars and petroglyphs there too. There are many other rock art sites in the Tucson area as well. Its most beutiful in spring after some good rain. This year has been very dry unfortunately.

 

[Old Pueblo]

This is the ruins of Kinishba, near Fort Apache, AZ. Another really cool place to stop if you're in AZ. Many old building from the fort are nearby too.

 

[Terry Soloman]

I grew up in Phoenix, went to High school at Alhambra, and college after the service at ASU, in Tempe. Have some good friends in Tucson and Arivaca.

 

[Old Pueblo]

Those are some very nice pictographs, the one on the right is amazingly well preserved.

 

[Old Pueblo]

This is my mortar with some painted pottery sherds that used to sit on my grandmothers back porch. Her home was built on an old ranch just north of Tucson AZ, which has a very rich cultural heritage.