diff --git a/src/brad/admin/bootstrap_schema.py b/src/brad/admin/bootstrap_schema.py
index 95efddab..58c3f6b4 100644
--- a/src/brad/admin/bootstrap_schema.py
+++ b/src/brad/admin/bootstrap_schema.py
@@ -42,6 +42,12 @@ def register_admin_action(subparser) -> None:
         help="Set this flag to avoid persisting the blueprint. "
         "Only meant to be used if you know what you are doing!",
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--bare-aurora-tables",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="If set, do not create the shadow tables and triggers "
+        "for Aurora. Only meant to be used if you know what you are doing!",
+    )
     parser.set_defaults(admin_action=bootstrap_schema)
 
 
@@ -100,7 +106,9 @@ def bootstrap_schema(args):
                 table.name,
                 location,
             )
-            queries, db_type = sql_gen.generate_create_table_sql(table, location)
+            queries, db_type = sql_gen.generate_create_table_sql(
+                table, location, args.bare_aurora_tables
+            )
             conn = cxns.get_connection(db_type)
             cursor = conn.cursor_sync()
             for q in queries:
@@ -108,7 +116,7 @@ def bootstrap_schema(args):
                 cursor.execute_sync(q)
 
     # 7. Create and set up the extraction progress table.
-    if Engine.Aurora in engines_filter:
+    if Engine.Aurora in engines_filter and not args.bare_aurora_tables:
         queries, db_type = sql_gen.generate_extraction_progress_set_up_table_sql()
         conn = cxns.get_connection(db_type)
         cursor = conn.cursor_sync()
diff --git a/src/brad/blueprint/sql_gen/table.py b/src/brad/blueprint/sql_gen/table.py
index 59b2d082..2b3b5d94 100644
--- a/src/brad/blueprint/sql_gen/table.py
+++ b/src/brad/blueprint/sql_gen/table.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def __init__(self, config: ConfigFile, blueprint: Blueprint):
         self._blueprint = blueprint
 
     def generate_create_table_sql(
-        self, table: Table, location: Engine
+        self, table: Table, location: Engine, bare_aurora_tables: bool = False
     ) -> Tuple[List[str], Engine]:
         """
         Returns SQL queries that should be used to create `table` on `location`,
@@ -44,7 +44,10 @@ def generate_create_table_sql(
         """
 
         if location == Engine.Aurora:
-            if table.name in self._blueprint.base_table_names():
+            if (
+                not bare_aurora_tables
+                and table.name in self._blueprint.base_table_names()
+            ):
                 # This table needs to support incremental extraction. We need to
                 # create several additional structures to support this extraction.
                 columns_with_types = comma_separated_column_names_and_types(