Native American Marker Trees

Is it only folklore? The precursor to urban legendarium.

Legends state that Native Americans would bend saplings to mark trails during travel. The sapling would be bent in the direction to be followed to find their way to a destination. The sapling would be bent then tied down with sinews, left that way as the tree grew.

Quite clever, I think.

The saplings would be tied down at an angle with vines or sinews. Usually, long-lived species such as oak or pecan. Many of these marker trees are at least 150 years of age. They were bent as saplings, now bearing the appearance of an unnatural bend.

In the small town where I live, I saw some of these trees, was curious enough to snap photos of them, then do some online reverse image research. This marker tree is in the large dogs area of the dog park in Graham, TX. Yes, it's one I snapped a photo of. I was so happy that the trees were left untouched when the dog park was created.

There it was. It confirmed to me that this was man made. A Native American connection was a pleasant surprise to me. Over 100 years ago, the area of Texas where I live was Comanche territory. The Commanche traveled a lot. Hunting, maybe sightseeing, looking for signs of encroachment, looking for new food sources.

It's fascinating as well as a display of Native American ingenuity, intelligence, respect for the land. It's a natural way to post signage to direct a path to a destination. As white settlers moved in, many of these marker trees were chopped down to make way for houses. Also drinking establishments, "dance halls" aka whorehouses, places of business as well as places for law enforcement. Jails, courthouses, sheriff's offices, etc.

The marker trees that remain are 100+ years of age. The saplings have grown into bent over oak trees, pecan trees & the like. It was too late to recognize the value of all of the trees when so many were chopped down. Some still remain as a testament to Native American ways of wisdom.

If you are one who enjoys walking through forests, admiring the majestic oak trees. Maybe maple trees or even hazelnut or pecan trees you might, now, recognize marker trees. You might marvel at the Native American ways that are lost to time yet memorialized by the ancient wisdom in the ancient trees that remain.