PAINT CUP - MORTAR (Vertical) & PESTLE, HILL CAVE REGION, SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNI
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:10659 | Color: Brown/Grey |
| Material: Stone | Maker: Indigenous people of California |
| Original/Reproduction: Original |
PAINT CUP-MORTAR(Vertical) & PESTLE, HILL CAVE REGION, SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIAMortarHeight: 2 ¼”Width: 2 ½”Weight: 6.3 ozPestleLength: 2”Width: ½”Weight: .4 ozThis is the SECONDPAINT CUP mortar from the Painted Hill Cave region above Santa Barbara. As withthe previously listed artifact, the assemblage was uncovered in the Santa YnezMountains above Santa Barbara. This paint-mortaris UNIQUE in that it is a vertical-style “cup” with a tiny pestle, th...oughperfect for detailed cave glyphs.The private landowner’s suspicion is that this tinycup-mortar was used by the ancient Chumash to paint the images within the manycaves in the area.The cup-mortar wascarved from a hard, dense volcanic stone. The many caves inthe Santa Ynez range were used by Chumash Shamans to commune with the spiritworld. It is thought that the strangeimages along cave walls were done while the Shaman was in an hallucinogenictrance—that may explain the many “trippy” images that appear to have no meaningto visitors today.Again, as with thepreviously listed paint-mortar, the artifact has been thoroughly inundated withcenturies of rain/stream water.This UNIQUEVERTICAL mortar was used by Shamans to contact the spirit world.Minor rim/basedings/nicks.
