Breck Parkman: Unearthing Bay Area’s Hidden Histories
Meet Breck Parkman, the Bay Area archaeologist who views his work as more than just science—it’s storytelling. For over three decades with California State Parks, Parkman meticulously pieced together narratives of lives lived long ago, from Ice Age mammoths to 1960s communes, painting vivid pictures of our region’s rich past.
The Storyteller Archaeologist: A Unique Vision
Retired Senior State Archaeologist Breck Parkman, at 73, spent 36 years digging into the Bay Area’s soul. Unlike the stereotypical Indiana Jones, he wasn’t just recovering artifacts; he was using them—along with rock chemistry and soil layers—to imagine the people who inhabited these lands thousands of years ago, and even as recently as the 20th century. For Parkman, every shard and ruin whispered stories waiting to be told.
Bringing Sonoma Plaza to Life
Sitting in historic Sonoma Plaza, Parkman vividly described a time before upscale boutiques and cars. He could picture General Mariano Vallejo’s soldiers parading in 1835, or even further back, 15,000 years ago, when mammoths and sabertooths roamed the landscape visible from that very spot. These “layers of life,” he notes, are constantly present if one knows how to look.
| Traditional Archaeology Focus | Breck Parkman’s Approach |
|---|---|
| Categorizing artifacts | Imagining human experiences |
| Scientific excavation | “Scientific detective work” to uncover narratives |
| Focus on material culture | Unveiling the “bigger picture” of life |
Uncovering Diverse Bay Area Narratives
Parkman’s extensive fieldwork spanned globally from Siberia to Peru, but his deepest fascinations often lay closer to home, within Northern California’s state parks. He managed cultural resources across more than 70 parks, from Del Norte County to Angel Island, tackling diverse periods and peoples.
The Olompali Commune: A 1960s Experiment
One of his most renowned studies involved sifting through the charred remains of the Burdell mansion at Olompali State Historic Park in Novato. This site was home to the “Chosen Family” commune, loosely affiliated with the Grateful Dead, which experimented with new ways of living in the late 1960s before a fire tragically ended their dream.
Parkman’s analysis of over 90 vinyl records found there revealed a surprising diversity of musical tastes, from The Beatles and Bob Dylan to Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. This discovery challenged simplistic stereotypes of commune hippies, showcasing a richer, more varied community.
Ice Age Giants on the Sonoma Coast
Another profound discovery involved peculiar shiny patches on craggy seastacks near Goat Rock in Sonoma Coast State Park. Parkman theorized these were “mammoth rub rocks”—evidence that Ice Age Columbian mammoths, some 11,500 years ago, used these surfaces for grooming, similar to modern elephants. Remarkably, this insight came during a period of quiet reflection on September 12, 2001, the day after the 9/11 attacks, when the absence of air traffic gave him the stillness to observe his surroundings anew.
A Life Inspired by Purpose
Parkman’s path to archaeology was forged early, growing up in Georgia with a fascination for Native American artifacts. His experiences with racial segregation and an early encounter with Martin Luther King, Jr. instilled a deep awareness of civil rights. Later, a childhood wave from presidential candidate John F. Kennedy planted the seed for public service, eventually leading him to the Bay Area in 1971 to pursue archaeology at Cal State Hayward.
Beyond Retirement: Continuing the Legacy
Though retired in 2017, Parkman remains active, sharing his insights through writing, lectures, and YouTube videos. He continues to explore profound themes, from the environmental roles of dung and condors to deeply personal reflections on life, death, and grief, as seen in his tribute to his late wife, Diane Askew. His work often blurs the lines between scientific inquiry and philosophical contemplation, inviting us to consider our own place in the grand tapestry of time and memory.
FAQs About Breck Parkman’s Work
- What is Breck Parkman best known for?
He is known for his unique approach to archaeology as a “storyteller,” interpreting artifacts and landscapes to reconstruct historical narratives, particularly within California State Parks. - Which Bay Area locations did he primarily study?
His work covered numerous Bay Area sites, including Sonoma Plaza, Fort Ross State Historic Park, Angel Island, and Olompali State Historic Park in Novato. - What was a surprising discovery from his study of the Olompali commune?
Analysis of vinyl records found at the site revealed a diverse range of musical tastes among residents, challenging common stereotypes of 1960s hippies. - How does he view the role of an archaeologist?
Parkman sees himself as looking at the “bigger picture,” not just cataloging artifacts but imagining the lives of people, from ancient inhabitants to more recent historical figures, bringing their stories to life.
Breck Parkman’s work reminds us that the Bay Area’s landscape holds countless stories, inviting us to look beyond the surface and connect with the profound, layered histories that shape our present.
Breck Parkman Unearths Bay Area Hidden Histories
