Awaswas People of Santa Cruz - California

[@stallsonpurpose]

this is a tOUCHDOWN beyond fantastic

[@deadmetal8692]

I lived in Santa Cruz back in the late 90's and I had no idea these places existed. Santa Cruz will always hold a special place in my heart. I still have dreams that I'm there. The energy that surrounds the Monterey Bay (especially SC) is pure and palpable. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of the ancient peoples who once called this place home.

[@shinyshinygirl]

*still call this place home. They still exist. They're not extinct.

[@storiesbyalex]

It was a fun trek - thanks for watching - alex

[@jcee2259]

True. Until you learn the expense needed to reside in that county. I departed, going up the coast, until I found what was affordable. My road trips to Santa Cruz and back average 2,400 miles.

[@mcmdrpiffle447]

I get it. Santa Cruz California, highest cost of living in the United States. I live here. Mid 6 figure salary, just above poverty.

[@stallsonpurpose]

please thank all the members of your powerful squad

[@dorothykelly8924]

Amazing. Watching this in Scotland. Will visit some day.

[@storiesbyalex]

Dorothy, thanks for watching......alex

[@mcmdrpiffle447]

Obviously, I'm late to the party ! I realize this is a 10 year old video. Fascinating journey. I live here. I've seen these deep holes in rocks all my life. Never understood what they were until now. You were lucky to catch Lexington so very low. Lots of fascinating stuff to be found on the south east end, towards beaver creek, where the stream from Lake Ellsman comes down. Also, Soquel. It's pronounced Sokell. No QU pronunciation. It's a shortened version of the Ohlone Indian name for the area: Osocales, as the Spanish called it. Osocales was sometime later shortened to Soquel. Go figure ! Seriously fabulous video. I've subscribed. I hope you're still around. I've lived in the Santa Cruz Mountains for 30 years, and have hiked/mt biked over most of it. Simply fascinating video. Thank You...

[@johntabasz1219]

That’s the same Jim Hale that led a “Spring Quarter in the Southwest Desert” I went on while in college. Awesome dude!

[@gs6810]

Soooo, there is a cliff in Garrapata just south of Monterey. It's right on the edge of the ocean and heavily eroded. I used to walk up and down it to go fishing and at the top of it there was always abalone shell pieces coming out of the ground where the cliff was eroding. There was a whole layer of abalone shell in the soil, a good 50 feet above the ocean and I always wondered how that happened and this video just made me realize it's likely from people who lived there hundreds, if not thousands of years ago. Maybe Esalen people.

[@mcmdrpiffle447]

Sounds like you found a midden ! Possibly a sand compact, where marine life and shells get compressed into light sandstone, but more likely a midden given the height above ground.

[@denaredford6701]

That point is nice , what a find . Earth just offers up its artifacts to you . Good energy

[@ellarb6402]

I was at the stone circle today (17:54) and it is being paved over by Peninsula Open Space to make a parking lot for Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. The stone circle has been identified as an architectural feature (ie, rocks put there by previous owners of the land), NOT a prehistoric site, so unless this designation changes, the stones will be most likely relocated to another spot on the preserve and the spiritual spot destroyed.

[@littleSallyJo]

Identified by whom? I don't think that is right--it feels spiritual.

[@joebobmarley2854]

Dang

[@kaumingo]

Us locals say So- KELL. Spell Soquel.

[@littleSallyJo]

And the Hermit Thrush has the most hauntingly beautifull song---I used to call it the Echo Bird when I heard it at campspots.

[@216trixie]

Thanks for this. I'm teaching myself to count in Awaswas,, and a few of the words... Also, my family used to own a parcel of the north peak of Mt. Diablo. Most of the land is now park land. I've been back recently and found artifacts. Your video on the Volvons has been fascinating.

[@joebobmarley2854]

216trixie what type of artifacts did you find?

[@216trixie]

@@joebobmarley2854 A Flint knife. A metate. One arrowhead and some obsidian fragments. But that's nothing. Since then,those finds caused me to look through my jade collection from the North coast. Turns out that the Natives were carving and pecking rocks into animal shapes. Turtles, bears, coyotes, human faces. They're laying around everywhere. At the beach, in River beds, in the valley in the mountains.

[@joebobmarley2854]

@@216trixie wow. really? interesting. Why would they leave them behind?

[@216trixie]

@@joebobmarley2854 Because we chased them off their land or murdered them.

[@216trixie]

@@joebobmarley2854 The bigger picture though I think is, this place has been inhabited for at least twelve, maybe 20 or more thousand years. they didn't have the internet, or movies, or TV, or books, but they did have their stories, and rocks, that they could make into animal shapes and totems and storytelling art.

[@grbradsk]

Dang, I'm going to have to go back there. I've hiked there many times and never knew.

[@greatbasinman]

Enjoyed...keep treking!

[@frankgrant4784]

Did you notice that he never blinked his eyes? It was thought he could see my soul.

[@kylesherman3077]

I live in Mendocino county, looking to find out more info about the pomo and other native to my region. I used to find lots of indian artifacts at indian school house point and other locations in Arizona haven't found to much out here in Cali

[@storiesbyalex]

Kyle, I have found most sites by conducting internet research. If you google "Mendocino archaeological sites" you will start getting a lot of information which will lead you to other internet sites. Eventually, you will develop information which will form the basis of your treks to these sites.........alex

[@denaredford6701]

Kyle Sherman I live here in this county of Mendocino , there are tons of artifacts including petroglyphs . Good luck

[@The1Helleri]

Little Basin (not to be confused with Big Basin) State Park has a former village site, Complete with bedrock mortars. They have some artifacts on display in the main office. This village site is not only near a stream but a crevice waterfall as well (very near like 1 minute walk if I recall correctly).

[@storiesbyalex]

Thanks for watching and your comments.....................alex

[@gramz8006]

I love this found it very interesting thank you for sharing.

[@kimberlyfellows3139]

When we were young, 8 and9 years old, my sister and I found a big beautiful wooden eagle carving with native story carvedin it. This was on Eureka canyon creek, 1971 or 72.... This eagle was buried in the creek bank. We've had it hanging on our wall here in Oregon ever since! I'm curious about it's origin! Can you help us Alex?

[@s577-v4v]

Eureka canyon , Corralitos??

[@kimberlyfellows3139]

@@s577-v4v YES

[@mcmdrpiffle447]

Awesome ! As it was a carving of an Eagle, a symbolic American icon, with carvings in english? Most likely from the early 20th century. Common household things at the time. Carved eagles with prayers, political slogans, affirmations, quotes from Abraham Lincoln, etc... I live just off Eureka Canyon Rd, on Highland. Well, I guess they're one and the same, just named differently around how far down on the road you are. Finding it in a creek bank is too cool for words. Keep it on your wall in Oregon, and never get rid of it ! Awesome find.

[@The1Helleri]

There is what I am pretty sure is a bedrock mortar in Boulder Creek. Seems to have been overlooked (if it is one) by people interested in finding these things. It's off of fairview road in the main part of town (across the small bridge). It's right up against the creek opposite the fish ladder (part of a concrete wall cuts through it).

[@miguelcarter1949]

They are all over the place My grandfather was a farmer all his life for He had collected enough of them to create a stone wall across the whole front yard Just stacked up to save them none destroyed

[@1uptospeed]

nine job their alex good your filming them rocks befor all that likin moss covers that frame in time!

[@storiesbyalex]

Thanks.......alex

[@imadothedamnthing4998]

The stone to the left of the grinding rock you showed looked like an axe head

[@gabrielpineida7063]

They were also in ano Nuevo near Pescadero qourostie valley

[@TolaRat]

”Soak-well”? Where that? 🙄

[@joelanderos23]

soquel

[@storiesbyalex]

Hey tuledude89 - thanks for watching.......alex

[@laurenvictoriag2011]

we're still here

[@rhalub]

Removing artifacts is illegal. Report its gps location to local rangers and leave it be.

[@ellarb6402]

The stone circle (17:54) is officially gone, destroyed to make a parking lot for Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve courtesy of Peninsula Open Space Trust.

[@storiesbyalex]

Ella ;3, were the stones re-located or actually destroyed?

[@ellarb6402]

​@@storiesbyalex The stone circle was dismantled and the stones were moved to another spot across the pond. I am not sure if the stones were randomly placed or if there was an attempt to recreate the stone circle. I did contact the Peninsula Open Space Trust before they destroyed the prehistoric site, but I received no response.

[@joebobmarley2854]

Ella RB wow, unbelievable

[@joebobmarley2854]

Thanks for sharing your adventure with us! The stone circle is from the race of red haired giants that built the same type of sites in Northern Europe including Stonehenge. And the site for the solstice, was that rock carved to make the opening for the sunset? Fascinating. Like an ancient calendar. Have you ever explored the Northwest corner of California? Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity and Shasta counties? I've done some research to these areas searching for signs of ancient past. Curious if you've ever ventured up here? If so, I would love to watch those videos.

[@tuledude89]

cool. vid have to go there someday

[@denaredford6701]

Love your mini movies Alex . Thank you

[@bethbartlett5692]

*I suggest the Stone Circle was there when the Native Americans arrived. They wouldn't likely use a Spiritual Site for General Food Preparation.* The pre-flood inhabitants. The "taller people".

[@clovergrass9439]

I think calling the indians native is incorrect. Others have been there before. They use that term to instill guilt.

[@LaughingblueSu]

I wonder how the Indians kept their stored acorns safe from racoons and bears?

[@anthonyrodriguez1171]

good story just the inteo is to long

[@storiesbyalex]

Anthony, thanks for watching.......alex

[@anthonyrodriguez1171]

Welcome awsome video

[@99problemsbutafishaintone35]

Good man. Leave that stuff.

[@thetruthonlydementia7379]

Otherwise known as the "aoncewas". Maybe should have made a copy of those treaties.