The first Native Americans to settle in the area that is now Sequoia National Park were the Western Mono people, also known as the Monachee, around 1000 AD. They lived primarily in the Kaweah River drainage, but also seasonally in the Giant Forest. The Tubatulabal people used the eastern part of the area, the Kern River drainage, for summer hunting. #IndigenousPeoplesDay
The Native Americans who lived in the area left behind many archaeological sites, including:
Hospital Rock: A site in the foothills where the Potwisha sub-group of the Western Mono have lived since at least 1350 AD. It features ancient pictographs and nearly 50 bedrock mortars.
Winter villages: Located at lower elevations where there was no snow
#IndigenousPeoplesDay
I actually have bedrock mortars in my yard right here by the Kaweah River. #IndigenousPeoplesDay
Summer trade camps: Located at high elevations along travel routes
Stone-tool manufacturing locations: Located throughout the forest
Hunting camps: Small overnight camps
Food processing sites: Located throughout the forest
Plant collecting areas: Located throughout the forest. #IndigenousPeoplesDay