Concrete / Mortar land marker found inside of live oak 60” in diameter

[phishown]

Found this inside of live oak 60” in diameter. It was in the dead center of tree from 2’ from ground up to 5’. It has green paint on it. Tree is estimated to be 250-300 years old. It’s made of concrete and has mortar between joints. It has has nails where it was nailed to tree in the first 70 years of life. It’s around 60’ from Bay’s edge as well.

 

[Erik in NJ]

Cool find. Not sure I can envision where in the tree it was or what the joints were for. How big is it and how old do you think it is? Can you provide a pencil sketch of where it was inside the tree and why it was segmented? You said it was originally nailed to the tree? What's the diameter and length of the marker?

 

[phishown]

Cool find. Not sure I can envision where in the tree it was or what the joints were for. How big is it and how old do you think it is? Can you provide a pencil sketch of where it was inside the tree and why it was segmented? You said it was originally nailed to the tree? What's the diameter and length of the marker?

the point was approx 5’ up the trunk pointing up with the circle shape to the right of point. It extends downward 3’ ....so approx 3’ in length. Keep in mind this is Was dead center of tree just about...that’s 60” in diameter. We picked it out in pieces after chainsaw discovered it. Cut the tree down around it. Have to get the rest of bottom Portion out of stump tomorrow. Mortar is blackish. It would have been facing water when nailed to tree. Has to be around 200 years old or more because of the size of live oak.

 

[ticndig]

probably a survey marker

 

[thrifty76now]

If that item could only talk what a story would be unveiled.

 

[bologna321]

I'd hate to hit that with a chainsaw

 

[DeepseekerADS]

You post here is really cool = at least "incredible"

Another thing of note - you've been a Tnet member for over 14 years, and this thread is your first two posts.

Well, I guess you saved up for something really good

 

[Indian Steve]

I'm wondering if someone didn't put that in the tree to fill a rotted spot. I worked for a tree company back in the 1970s and we found several trees that had concrete in them to fill cavities and one big oak that had bricks laid up in mortar that looked like a brick wall inside the tree. On most, the tree had grown around the concrete and we didn't know until we hit with a chain saw. The concrete was hell on the chain but not as bad as hitting a horseshoe inside the tree.

 

[phishown]

I'm wondering if someone didn't put that in the tree to fill a rotted spot. I worked for a tree company back in the 1970s and we found several trees that had concrete in them to fill cavities and one big oak that had bricks laid up in mortar that looked like a brick wall inside the tree. On most, the tree had grown around the concrete and we didn't know until we hit with a chain saw. The concrete was hell on the chain but not as bad as hitting a horseshoe inside the tree.

that was the first thing we thought other than a cannon ball when the saws hit it. There is no opening above it in the cavity. Plus there was a tremendous growth knuckle 4’ above. There are nails holding it to the tree as well. It has two different layers of paint. It’s been shaped and I found two letters on it today. We were not able to get the rest of it out today. Maybe tomorrow. The tree may be much older because just below grade it’s 2’ -3’ thick by 8’ diameter solid. We are thinking the tree was much bigger at some point. You can see the rectangle in the center of tree where the cavity is. It Was facing due south.

 

[Wildcat1750]

As I recall cavities in trees used to be filled with concrete in the 'old days' to save them.

 

[A2coins]

Thats a cool find Welcome even though youve been a member for a while .Hope to see more posts.

 

[wainzoid]

I'm confused. If that stump is 5ft in diameter, it must be 6ft high. Then the hoe bucket would be 4ft wide and the man 12ft tall

 

[phishown]

This will give you a better perpective
36” long and growing... more pieces to get out. Keep in mind the point and circle were at the top. It was on the tree as you see it but upright facing south.

 

[phishown]

5’ tall, tapers at top and bottom. With a circle at each end opposite side. The nails are square that hold the pieces to tree.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Cool find, very interested in the ID.