Chaw'se: Indian mortar cups at large grinding rock

Outcropping of marbleized limestone: mortar holes in which Miwok people and their ancestors processed acorns

The Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park—known as CHAW-SE, with respect to the Miwok language—is a California State Park in Amador County. This park in the Sierra Nevada foothills features a reconstructed Miwok village, a large limestone grinding rock, a museum with a variety of exhibits, and hiking trails [1-3].

The park panel that welcomes visitors to Chaw-se  (also written Chaw'se or Chaw sé) tells you that this Miwok word for “mortar cup” is pronounced Cha-sa. The panel continues: 

For thousands of years our people, the Northern Sierra Miwok, have cherished this landscape. It is home to our ancestors, to the thriving native community today, and to our children's future. This is a special place where the spirit of our traditions, dance, and rich culture live on.

The grinding rock is the largest in North America. The picture above shows only a few mortar holes. Also, petroglyphs have been found at the rock. A panel with the unsurprising title “Chaw'se” explains:

Although the meaning of the petroglyphs cannot be fully explained. they do suggest that this was a powerful and important place, a place where many generations worked together on this Chaw'se, pounding acorns and seeds into meal.

The panel continues:

Our Chaw'se is not simply stone. In our culture, we view the rock as living thing. It embodies the seasons that have passed upon it, and it has felt the slow grinding of its surface by women's hands and their stone pestles over hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of years. 

Not very far from the grinding rock, you get the chance to explore a Native American ceremonial roundhouse—a reconstruction and a California Registered Historical Landmark (No. 1001).

Chaw-se Roundhouse

The Chaw sé Roundhouse plaque says:

In a village, the roundhouse served as the center of ceremonial and social life. Constructed in 1974, the Chaw Sé Roundhouse continues this tradition. With its door facing the east, towards the rising sun, four large oaks are the focal point of this sixty foot in diameter structure. Today, ceremonial roundhouses are the most significant architectural manifestations of the continuing Miwok Spiritual Heritage. 

While exploring Miwok culture, don't miss the metal statue of a Miwok dancer near the Chaw'se Regional Indian Museum.

Sculpture dedicated to the First People of California by J. L. Plamondon

Getting there

The Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park is located twelve miles east of Jackson, California. 

Address: 14881 Pine Grove-Volcano Road, Pine Grove, CA.

From Jackson, drive east on State Highway 88 East to the town of Pine Grove. Turn left on Pine Grove-Volcano Road. Find the park to your left after approximately 1.5 miles: the first left-side entrance gets you to the campground. The main entrance is the second left with access of the parking area next to the museum. 

South Loop Trail

“Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park” References

[1] Brochure with park map: www.parks.ca.gov/pages/553/files/IndianGrindingRockFinalWebLayout020917.pdf.

[2] Visit Amador - Amador Council of Tourism: www.visitamador.com/business/chawse-indian-grinding-rock-state-historic-park.

[3] Sierra Nevada Geotourism, developed in association with National Geographic: sierranevadageotourism.org/entries/indian-grinding-rock-state-historic-park/bd682892-6b8c-4d00-b860-d6c21e2992fa.

Meadow in Indian Grinding Rock State Park