the comments regarding "bent" trees were very interesting.... i have two in my area ..one about a hundred feet from the house..if you sight in the opposite direction of the bend it points to a bluff with small caves in it and/or the river below it...i always assumed it pointed to the river and an indian hunting camp that was in the river bottom (many points and sherds are still found in this camp after a rain or the annual plowing )...never thought of treasure .....i may have to check out those small caves .....a pre-civil war log two story house is across from these caves ..it was burned down 5 years ago ..may be that the homesteaders also used these "bent" trees as a guide too..any thoughts? ..Road in Missouri