Hidden along a narrow, steep, and windy road is a tiny piece of the Chumash Indian history preserved for visitors to view. The state park is small, and doesn’t look like much at first glance. But peek through the bars blocking the entrance to this cave, and you’ll discover striking traces of the past.

This little cave has some decently preserved art from before the Europeans settlers really took over California. The colorful symbols are a bright contrast with the pale sandstone surface.  Though the meaning of the images is unclear, it’s believed the artwork is related to Chumash cosmology.

The age of the rock art is as murky as its meaning. According to some estimates, it may be upwards of 1,000 years old.

There’s evidence that the white settlers have known about this spot for years, as early migrants left their mark in the form of graffiti near the enigmatic indigenous artwork. The bars were installed over the entrance and the area was declared a state park to prevent further damage.