07/08/2026
This spring, a specialized team from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC), in collaboration with Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), visited Juristac, drawn by one of the landscape’s rare and culturally significant features: naturally occurring asphalt seeps that hold tiny, long‑preserved insects known as tar flies. Their visit marks an exciting moment as we begin to learn more about this sacred place.
For the Amah Mutsun, Juristac is the spiritual center of their world, a place where teachings, ceremonies, and relationships with the land have been carried forward for centuries. The presence of tar flies and other preserved beings adds yet another layer to Juristac’s fascinating story and promises to be among the first of many interesting discoveries.
Juristac’s asphalt seeps are extremely rare. The best-known and most studied tar pits are those at La Brea in the greater Los Angeles area, which have long captured the interest of scientists and archaeologists. In their myriad findings at La Brea, scientists have unearthed the fossils of saber-toothed tigers, dire wolves, bears, and mammoths. However, over the decades, they have also captured and held small beings such as these rare flies, which appear to exist only in these seeps. A recent documentary was released about this research.
Rather than approaching these findings from a purely scientific standpoint, NHMLAC’s team expressed deep respect for Juristac and genuine excitement about partnering with AMLT and the Tribe to understand what these insects can teach us and how we can weave scientific study with Tribal values.
NHMLAC’s interest in Juristac reflects a growing recognition of the landscape’s cultural and ecological significance. Their visit opens the door to future collaboration and is yet another opportunity to celebrate Juristac’s richness, explore the possibility of learning from this geologic curiosity, reconnect with the land’s history, and honor the stories long held by the Amah Mutsun people.
