I first heard about this site from a friend in the US Forest Service, and finally got an opportunity to visit.   My first visit was on a sunny day, with contrasty lighting, so I later returned on an overcast day with more even lighting. 1 - First visit, December 2019:

This quarry consists of a single huge soapstone boulder with multiple bowl preforms and extraction scars.

Bowl preform on vertical face of rock Note the grooves visible below the preform where the stone was pecked away.

A pair of preforms

Preform

Preform with incised circular design

Bowl preforms at top of boulder

Preform

Faint bowl removal scar

We saw a few spots where pieces had been sawed off this boulder long ago.

Photographing features on top of the boulder Photo by C. Shaw

2 - A return visit with Alan C., December 2019:

Alan at the boulder We counted a total of 38 bowl preforms and/or removal scars on this boulder, with more likely hidden under grade.

Side view, showing several bowl preforms and removal scars

Rear of the boulder, with several bowl removal scars visible

Scar of a large bowl removal

The incised circle on the bottom of a preform

This preform is unusually small, no more than 8 inches in diameter.

Preforms and scars, Alan in background.

A pair of bowl removal/extraction scars

Bowl preform

A pair of preforms

3 - My friend Sheldon visited the bowl quarry, and on the way in, found another nearby quarried boulder. March 2020:

Soapstone boulder 2

Preform and bowl removal scar on one side

Preform on the opposite side

Preforms and other carving on the top

Closer view of preform and small circle

Small circular carving

Linear carvings at bottom of boulder

Click here for a rendering of the soapstone bowl production process.

All Text & Images: Copyright 2019-2020.