San Luis Obispo County History

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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Source:
A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara,
San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California
by Yda Addis Storke
Published in 1891 in Chicago by the Lewis Publishing Co.


THE PAINTED ROCK. 

Conical in shape, it rises abruptly from the plain to a height of about 140 feet, on one of 
whose sides is an opening twenty feet wide; extending to 120 feet on the inner side, 
where it expands to a length of 225 feet, forming a grand natural room or hall, open 
to the sky, � a veritable majestic temple of the wilderness. 

It is evident that this great chamber was used by some pre-historic people for purposes 
of worship or of council, as is evinced by the strange paintings upon the inner face of the 
walls. These paintings are done in pigments ol three colors, red, white and black, still 
distinct after exposure to the weather through untold ages. The strange characters and 
figures there depicted with evident careful design somewhat remotely resemble the 
hieroglyphics of Egypt or the picture writings of Yucatan and other portions of Mexico, 
being homogeneous with the other aboriginal paintings found in various portions of 
Southern California. In other parts of this county, as in that of Santa Barbara, are found 
other "painted rocks," of similar origin, but none so grand or so interesting as this great 
natural temple of the Carriso Plain. 

This plain is separated from the Tulare Valley by the Monte Diablo range of mountains, 
and from the San Juan Valley by a low ridge. The small valleys and rounded hills 
here are clothed in wild oats, alfilaria, and bunch-grass. This valley has been much 
settled up of late years.