Question

[pointshunter]

My grandpa used to tell us the Indians would bend branches on trees so that a limb would grow straight out the side in order to mark a trail . There used to be a tree in Chillicothe that really looked funny because only one huge branch grew straight out where my grandparents used to live on the farm and that's the story my grandfather told me about it and the tree was ancient when I was a kid it was a huge maple 4 men would have had to hold hands to surround it. Is that true? I'm wondering because in the woods by the field I'm hunting I found a tree just like it.

 

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[old digger]

It's possible. Out west here they used rock cairns a trail markers. From what I understand they would add rocks and even other objects when passing that way. There was a spiritual siginificance in placing objects on them.

 

[rock]

I wouldnt doubt it they did use markers of all kinds. But you have to remember as to how long ago they lived there verses the age of the tree. I would guess all tress from when they lived in the area are now long gone.

 

[unclemac]

yes....and in other places in the world too... Scandinavia springs to mind...

Trail trees - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[scepter1]

Doubftful that tree is old enough. 60 years ago we used to take small willows and alders and tie them into knots... those trees are now large and odd looking twisted trees. I suspect our ancestors did similiar things.

 

[larson1951]

My grandpa used to tell us the Indians would bend branches on trees so that a limb would grow straight out the side in order to mark a trail . There used to be a tree in Chillicothe that really looked funny because only one huge branch grew straight out where my grandparents used to live on the farm and that's the story my grandfather told me about it and the tree was ancient when I was a kid it was a huge maple 4 men would have had to hold hands to surround it. Is that true? I'm wondering because in the woods by the field I'm hunting I found a tree just like it.

yup pointshunter your grandpa was right........they did that

 

[pointshunter]

Okay I'm a woman first off . After I posted this I went online and actually there are still a lot of trail marker trees still alive and they are found in 39 states and they are claimed by native tribes. There are some here in ohio one is in a park. There is tons of info on these online . A lot of the ones down south are made with pecan trees and I guess they have a pretty long life. Also oaks there is one I read about that is from an old white oak that is well over 300 years old . So from what I also read a lot of trees can be over 200 + years old. And so Trail Trees can be found.

 

[newnan man]

200 years ago = 1813. In Ohio most Indians still living were fighting with the settlers who were moving in by the thousands. Don't think bending trees was a high priority but anything is possible. Maybe a farmer did it for some reason.

 

[rock]

I see big oak trees here but if they were trail markers that many yrs ago the marker on them today would be in the tops of the trees.

 

[NC field hunter]

It's now uncommon to see big hardwoods in my neck of the woods. Stupid pine trees are all the loggers reseed. Pines are quick to grow and loggers love them. Behind my house is an oak that my great grandmother played in, as did my grandmother, mom, and me. Tree is still strong. Look at the redwood in California. I have said I want to plant a pecan tree, just so my mark will be on this earth, long after I'm worm food. Hardwood trees live hundreds and hundreds of years. Not unlikely at all that they are old markers.

 

[Get-the-point]

Point hunter your Grandpa was a wise man. He is correct they used many ways to point out trails and that was one of them. They also used petryglyphs as well. These markers were also used by Spaniards when they first arrived. They would be markers for hunting grounds, settlements,and other vital reasons. Marker trees are found still but as the con census say most are dead.

 

[katdancing]

Pointshunter, good to have you here. My elders also spoke of tree limbs being bent into odd shapes for use as trail markers.
I still find them occasionally. You are spot on. Have a great day