California Mammals

In 1985, an artifact made from volcanic rock was unearthed at the Allan O. Kelly Archaeological Dig overlooking the Agua Hedionda Lagoon in Carlsbad, California in San Diego County. Archaeologists noticed a 2.5" long by 1.5" piece of meta-volcanic rock that looked a lot like a bear. It was fashioned by California Indians around 7,000 to 8,000 years ago. Created in the way that they made arrowheads or spear points, the stone artifact displayed markings of being chipped into a specific form. This prehistoric artifact is called the “Chipped Stone Bear" and is the Official California State Prehistoric Artifact, as adopted by the California Legislature on June 24, 1991. As an effigy in prehistoric times, it is still revered today as one of the earliest examples of representational art recovered in the Western United States. less ↑