Emeryville Shellmound, Archaeological site in Emeryville, California, United States.
Emeryville Shellmound is a burial and settlement site built up from shells discarded by residents over centuries. The layers reveal how people lived, what they ate, and where they laid their dead to rest.
The mound grew steadily from around 500 BCE until Spanish contact disrupted the Ohlone way of life in the 1700s. The displaced people left behind a place that recorded their long presence and practices in its layers.
This place held deep meaning for the Ohlone people, who gathered here to bury their dead and leave ceremonial objects for their ancestors. The practice shaped how the mound grew layer by layer over many generations.
The original mound no longer stands above ground, but markers and exhibits help you understand where it was located. Visit during quieter times if you want to read the information without crowds.
This was the largest shell mound of its kind in the San Francisco Bay region, built by countless generations stacking their daily discards. The sheer size hints at how long people called this place home.
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