No joke -
You might look at the Sequoia's Cherokee alphabet , their are several versions.
What area is ths tree from? This group travled / driven from east to west
also see "Trail Of Tears"
What kind of tree is this? If it is pine, it is probably not intentionally marked. I wouldn't rule it out though. It could be old surveyer marks if nothing else.
Boattow
I don't know.....I do know this. Some of that moss is brekaing the rules by growing on the south side if that tree. Gum tree? Is that your red vehicle on the left or your friend? Just curious.
.....it's a wound, the tree has healed it's self (all normal)
The shape of the chunk of bark missing is strange though... The remaining bark does not indicate a branch loss, which causes most tree wounds, and it looks solid. I'd say something hit the tree.