Hospital Rock, Archaeological site in Tulare County, United States.
Hospital Rock is a granite formation near Sequoia National Park that displays ancient rock art and numerous hollows carved into its surface. These depressions were used for grinding acorns and plant materials into flour over centuries of use.
This rock formation was used by local Indigenous peoples for food processing over several hundred years, showing clear evidence of long-term occupation. Its listing on the National Register of Historic Places recognizes the site as having national importance for understanding Indigenous life in the region.
This granite outcrop served as a gathering place where people prepared acorns and other foods, leaving behind deep impressions in the rock surface that tell of their daily routines. The mortar holes and rock art panels together create a visual record of how this community lived and worked.
The site is reachable by following marked trails with interpretive signage explaining the geological and cultural features along the way. Wear appropriate footwear since the rock surface can be slippery, especially after rain.
The rock surface holds more than fifty bedrock mortars carved into the granite, making it one of California's largest collections of such food processing marks. This dense concentration demonstrates how significant this location was as a regional processing center.
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