On the morning of each year's winter solstice, the sun's rays pierce a small cave in the Simi Hills. The light illuminates artwork painted by native Chumash sometime before the first Europeans visited the Valley in 1769. The paintings depict characters in Chumash lore and serve as a rudimentary calendar of the changing seasons.

The site, in an area known as Burro Flats, is near the historic location of Huwam, a Chumash settlement beside today's Bell Creek. Huwam was on the border between Chumash lands and the Tongva who lived on the Valley floor. Burro Flats became popular in the early 20th Century as a movie filming location.

These days Burro Flats is off-limits to the public on the property of Boeing-Rocketdyne's Santa Susana Mountains complex.

These photographs of the rock art were shot by Clive Ruggles, Professor of Archaeoastronomy at the University of Leicester School of Archaeology Ancient History in the United Kingdom. They are available here with his permission.

Prof. Ruggles' photo directory

Prof. Ruggles' bio

"Burro Flats at Winter Solstice" photos

Burro Flats movie history and photos by Jerry Schneider