Olla: "A large, widemouthed earthenware vessel used (as by Native Americans) for storage or as a container for water."
It had been at least a couple years since my last hike out to this remote desert location. Mitch was twisting my arm to go again, but he didn't have to twist too hard. Mitch's friend Doris joined us as well.
Let me start this post with a question: When is a fire ring not a fire ring? My answer is when it's an olla nest! What's the difference? Glad you asked! Let me illustrate with a couple photos:
Most people seeing a ring of rocks like this would assume someone has been camping here and built this rock ring for a camp fire. The truth is quite different, and much more interesting! This ring of rocks has sides that are higher and sturdier than your average fire ring. A big giveaway that this is an olla nest is the nest-like plant material at the bottom of the ring. Another giveaway is that there are no signs of soot, either on the rock ring or the adjacent rock wall.
Compare the olla nest to this very old fire ring I came across a number of years ago. Just a single layer of rocks in a circle, with a nearby pile of wood sticks and even a metal grill! Interestingly, when I was here a few weeks ago, the fire ring and wood pile had been destroyed and the grill was gone. My guess is the Park Service destroyed it since campfires are illegal.
Even though Mitch and I have visited the olla nest in the past, we still had a challenge trying to locate it on this trip. It's located in a multi-"room" cave or shelter made of boulders in an area with lots of boulders! You can (and we did) walk right by it without seeing it! Doris photographing the olla nest in the main part of the cave. The cave extends for quite a distance behind her.
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| Another view of the main room in the cave with olla nest.. |
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| A second "room" in the cave. |
1975 photo by Daniel McCarthy, who was the archeologist for what was then Joshua Tree National Monument. It looks nearly identical almost 50 years later! McCarthy mentioned the olla nest having a small "spirit stick" (on right) which Native Americans used for protection and good fortune. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a large, intact olla at this location, which was likely removed and is in the JTNP Cultural Museum. The museum has an extensive collection of ollas that have been found in the Park (see below). Perhaps one of these ollas came from the olla nest I'm sharing with you today! 
We counted four grinding slicks on these rocks outside of a small shelter, with a mano or grinding stone in the foreground. It's a rare thing to find a mano sitting on the grinding slick like this!
This memory will stay with me. The layer of fine dust beneath this mano tells me it hasn't been moved in many, many years. I had the distinct feeling I was touching something ancient! I replaced it exactly as I found it, and hoping the next person that discovers it will have the same appreciation.
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| Mule deer antler? (rarely seen in the Park) |
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| Trapdoor spider habitat. |
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| Mitch checking out some pictographs. |
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| Late afternoon light on Mojave Yucca and Ocotillo. |
I feel very fortunate indeed to be able to visit such an amazing site.
Thanks for stopping by and joining me!
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As you've probably heard, wildfires have been absolutely ravaging Southern California over the last couple days, driven by record-breaking dry winds. I'm safe and lucky to not be too close to the fires (most are in LA County), but my heart breaks as I see the photos of all the homes and structures destroyed and lives turned upside down. Scientists predicted years ago that our weather would get more and more extreme, and we are certainly seeing those predictions come true, and with devastating consequences.
I'm glad you can tell the difference of an olla nest - the 2 rings looks similar to me.
ReplyDelete...thanks for sharing your world. Without your blog I would be unaware of all of this desert beauty!
ReplyDeleteWow, you were brushing with some very ancient history. That is amazing. I love how you leave everything be as you found and don't give away any clues about they are.
ReplyDeleteThat multicave looks like rattlesnake and spider heaven to me.
As always, amazing. This is new to me and of course enjoyed ALL the history and shots. Thanks for allowing us to visit. GOOD STUFF! .... It is for sure this stuff will not be destroyed by fire, maybe by some fools, but not fire. Life is good.
ReplyDeleteWow what amazing things you have shown here. I never knew about ollas. At first I thought it was a bird when you mentioned its “nest” 😁. Then I finally understood it was a holder for the olla. So fascinating. And how cool you were able to touch that pounding stone. It is really amazing it was left there like one left suddenly. And nobody before you moved it. I felt like that when I walked on the steps of the coliseum in Rome …. I got chills thinking maybe Caesar walked here….
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful lesson we have learned with you out in the field! A great documentary post with these photos. An interesting find with the deer antler. If they're rarely seen in the Park, do you think it was brought in or do the antlers date back a considerable period when they were less rare?
ReplyDeleteDeer are only rarely seen in the Park, but I doubt these were brought in from elsewhere. They looked like they had been there a long time!
DeleteWonderful photos and interesting information.
ReplyDeleteSo very cool that you can find Lola nests and caves and petroglyphs and so much. And you appreciate it too. How wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how much you find from ancient peoples. I didn't realize how much stuff is still around that people can find (if they know where to look).
ReplyDeleteWonderful post.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm in the museum I always spend the longest time in the pottery area because I love looking at pots and vases.
ReplyDeleteWorth a Thousand Words
Interesting explanation and great photos. Glad to hear that you are away from wildfires
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting and educational post!
ReplyDeleteThe olla nest is such a cool discovery. I never knew about ollas!
It’s amazing that the cave still holds so many ancient artifacts .
This is an amazing find! It's fascinating to see how Native Americans used these natural features.
ReplyDeletethanks for taking us along!
ReplyDeleteI'm always glad to see that there's a new post from you. There are some incredibly bad things taking up space in my mind these days--- the fires, the orange menace-- You made them go away for a while. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteA lovely comment, Bill, and much appreciated!
DeleteCampfires! Sheesh! Can't be too careful these days.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting again. Good start of the new year.
ReplyDeleteOk. I want to come along with you some day. I know it isn't possible, but you have such great knowledge about the desert and so many things that interest me.
ReplyDeleteYou understand how to leave things as they are and not disturb them.
There is so much interesting history in this area!
You also understand the desert which I obviously don't.
You've made another interesting post. But honestly, I still wouldn't recognize an olla nest.
ReplyDeleteAll the best to everyone in California who has been affected by the wildfires or is still threatened by them.
It is part of my habit to destroy any fire ring I find out in nature and scatter the charred stones to the winds. I'm hoping my generation is the last generation to have been taught this method in the Boy Scouts or in cartoons, and that the practice will die out with the death of us. I mostly find them along the wild and scenic river whose banks I hike along so disguising the fire ring is easy. The stones get chunked into the river to be polished and cleaned.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good practice, Ed. I have a hiking friend who feels the same way about cairns, and takes great delight in knocking them over.
DeleteWonderful .Great post and pics.
ReplyDeleteStepping in the footprints of history has to be so awesome. I would not have known what I was even looking at. So interesting.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you are safe ~ so sad for all those people impacted by the fires ~
ReplyDeleteInformative and fascinating post and photos about the Olas ~ thanks,
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
clm ~ A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
You've shown us some amazing finds. It seems certain that Native Americans lived at that spot for a period of time.
ReplyDeleteIt was good to hear that you and your family are not in any of the dangerous fire spots. I've been following the California fires on the news and in the NY Times. The scenes are unbelievably frightening and totally devastating.
Lots of interesting info and great photos. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI learned a new term and know more about ollas now. Thank you. Truly beautiful and interesting photos and I am so glad I found the post through the Skywatch challenge for this week.
ReplyDeleteSigh, I place two hands over my eyes and contemplate what I have learned today and give you my heart felt thanks. Amazing blog. This blog never disappoints.
ReplyDeleteLoved this! Fascinating how people did things. Beautiful photos too. The ollas are incredible. I had never seen one before. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI just googled 'Ollas nests', to get more information. I understand the creation and use of the olla but why the nest? Interestingly, the first information to come up, was this blog post! I now can only assume that the nest was to keep the ollas upright.
ReplyDeleteYou've had a great time exploring and I am so glad you aren't affected by these horendous fires.
The plants making the "nest" are used to line the rocky ring and protect the olla from breaking. I would guess that back in the day the "nest" went up higher on the rocky ring to protect the olla. What we see in my photos is the nest settled over many, many years to just on the bottom of the ring. Native American pottery is brittle and easily broken (hence all the pottery sherds that can be found). Thanks for your interest, Helen!
DeleteQuerido amigo, los felicito a los dos por este trabajo tan interesante que nos das a conocer , es fantástico lo que hacen, fotografías y texto excelentes. me encantó tu post.
ReplyDeleteAbrazos y les dejo besos, que tengan un gran día
*♥♫♥**♥♫♥**♥♫♥*--*♥♫♥**♥*
I am always learning new things when I visit your blog and I appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea what an olla nest is. Now I do. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting detailed to see and read about
ReplyDeleteMisterios de la Naturaleza, que has sabido bien descifrar.
ReplyDeleteI can see why you thought the nest was a fire pit but I really like those old jars.
ReplyDeleteWow, that must be quite a feeling to touch something that ancient.
ReplyDeleteThe last one looks like The Devil´s Marbles In Outback Australia.
Incredible finds! I had never heard of an olla nest.
ReplyDeleteI’m very concerned about the climate events. The news makes me cry. I do have a daughter in Burbank, but she has been fine. Sometimes she wears a mask to go outdoors.
Wow.. such amazing finds. I had never heard of an olla or an olla nest.
ReplyDeleteViola! You found an Olla! There's so much to appreciate here. What a historical adventure.
ReplyDelete