The Emeryville Shellmound, in Emeryville, California, is a sacred burial site of the Ohlone people, a once-massive archaeological shell midden deposit (dark, highly organic soil, temple and burial ground containing a high concentration of human food waste remains, including shellfish).

It was one of a complex of five or six mounds along the mouth of the perennial Temescal Creek, on the east shore of San Francisco Bay between Oakland and Berkeley.

Archaeologists believe that Native Americans constructed the Shellmound which was largely made up of shellfish and animal remains, the remnants of millions of meals consumed at the site by the prehistoric residents.

The park contained a racetrack, two dance halls, bars, a carousel, bowling alley, and a world class shooting range where national competitions were regularly held.

By the early-to-middle 20th century substantial heavy industry was in place principally in the form of the Judson Steel company manufacturing facility and P.I.E.

Substantial amounts of contaminant removal, including many people buried there centuries ago, was conducted prior to area redevelopment.

Many articles were written in newspapers, magazines and newsletters supporting the preservation of the shellmound remnants and its designation as a sacred site.

Despite this, Emeryville City Council voted to replace the 19 acres (7.7 ha) site with Bay Street Shopping Mall.

On Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) each year, native people gather there to protest and inform shoppers about the history and importance of Emeryville Shellmound.

For Shellmound,[7] a 22-minute documentary, filmmaker Andres Cediel interviewed representatives of the city and developers of the shopping mall, archeologists, Ohlone descendants and others.