Nestled high in the mountains above Barstow, Newberry Cave sits quietly and unassumingly. Caves and pictographs are both rare in the Mojave Desert; this is a unique and amazing place.
The cave was first discovered by locals in the 1930s but wasn’t excavated until 1953 by Dr. Gerald Smith, working with the San Bernardino County Museum. They found atlatl shafts, projectile points, sandals made from willow and juniper bark, cordage, fire drills, quartz crystals painted green, and stone tools. They also found five figurines of deer or bighorn sheep made from willow and sticks. Miniature spears pierced the figurines. It is suspected they were used in rituals promoting a successful hunt. The figurines have been carbon dated to 3,000 to 4,000 years ago.
