A low granite bench (center-right) flanks a gallery forest along Sandy Creek (post oak, blackjack oak, live oak, mesquite, etc.). Although less than 12 feet in diameter, the bench reveals five separate processing stations, including both pounding (mortar) and grinding (metate) spots . It is likely that this bench was chosen by ancient peoples specifically to exploit the resources (acorns, walnuts, mesquite pods, various roots and/or bulbs) that were naturally plentiful along the creek. Photo by Dan Potter.