Title: Small circular stone mortar and pestle,
Id: 1991.1.168
before 1850
Type: Object/Artifact
Description: Acc. No. 1991.1.168 A & B Subject Category: Native Americans of Alameda Date or Period: before 1850 Object:
Mortar and pestle, stone Description: Hollowed out granite stone mortar (A) and dark grey stone pestle (B). Size: (A) D 8 1/2 x H 2 1/4 to 3 1/4 inches. (B) L 5 3/4 x D 3 1/4 inches History: Stone mortar and pestle found in one of Alameda's mounds. Part of a collection of objects found in the largest Shellmound, also known as Sather's Mound in Alameda, or smaller mounds. The excavations at Sather's Mound were
carried out in 1908 by Captain Clark, an amateur
anthropologist. The items were donated to the Alameda
Free Library, and passed on to the museum when the
museum moved to a separate location. Acquired from:
unknown Date: before 1991
Title: Round stone mortar and pestle, before 1850 Id: 1991.1.171 Type: Object/Artifact
Description: Acc. No. 1991.1.171 A & B Subject Category: Native Americans of Alameda Date or Period: before 1850 Object:
Mortar and pestle, stone Description: (A) Smoothly shaped mortar, almost symmetrical and visually circular, with wide grinding area. Rim is chipped. Size: D 9 1/4 x H 6 to 7 1/2 inches. Rim 1 inch. (B) Pestle of a dark grey stone with one end diagonally sheared off. Pestle has a mostly illegible machine, made? Alameda Historical Museum label/sticker on it. Perhaps: " L INDIAN..""IFOUND IN MI.JON" "MOUND St."" 717
CYPRESS AVE"
"1585[?!" "Alameda[..]" Size: L 9 3/4 x D 2 1/2 inches.
History: Stone mortar and pestle found in one of Alameda's mounds. The information on the pestle can be connected to a donation documented in the museum records: Subject:
One Indian Mortar and Pestle. Date received: April 1954.
Unfortunately, as a result of earlier inattention there is no further description, and as a result of later inattention during moves and minor catastrophes, it is not certain the mortar and pestles are together anymore, and the connection has been lost. Part of a collection of objects found in the largest Shellmound, also known as Sather's Mound in Alameda, or smaller mounds. The excavations at Sather's Mound were
carried out in 1908 by Captain Clark, an amateur
anthropologist. The items were donated to the Alameda
Free Library, and passed on to the museum when the
museum moved to a separate location. Date: April 1954
Mortar Acquired from: unknown Date: before 1991
Condition: Notes: 6/30/2020 MvL: The label has suffered water damage when a pipe in the museum burst. Any accession
was this reported numbering of the mortars and pestles was lost and has been redone.
to the city?
items taken shellmourels
Submitted by Gabriel Duncan
under Oral Communicators
Alameda Museum "Stolen* Native American Artifact Page: 9 / 61 9/19/23