Culturally Modified Trees

Ali Engle
3/9/2011
Culturally Modified Trees
In many areas of North America, especially the Pacific Northwest, there is unique evidence of aboriginal cultural and traditional practices. This evidence is present in individual forest trees that have been modified by various Native American tribes hundreds of years ago. A culturally modified tree, or CMT, is a tree that has been altered by aboriginal people as a part of their traditional use of the forest. I feel that it is very important to protect these specimens in order for Native Americans and non-native Americans alike to have a cultural connection to this land’s history and ancestors.
There are many types of CMTs, including bark-stripped trees, felled trees, planked trees, and arborgraphs/arborglyphs. A bark-stripped tree has either a rectangular or tapered bark-stripped scar on the bole of the tree. Native Americans used the bark of trees, especially cedar trees, for many things: clothing, dyes, blankets, rope and roofing, to name a few. CMTs that are felled can be found on the forest floor in many conditions. The base of a felled tree may have stone or bone chisel marks, indicating how the tree was cut. A felled CMT may also be in a fixed state of canoe construction. This is evidenced by charcoal burn marks on the surface of a felled tree. A planked CMT is a standing tree that has large vertical segments missing from its bole where Native Americans carved out planks or boards. An arborgraph is a standing tree that has Native American artwork carved out from its bole. An arborglyph is a standing tree that has Native American paintings or drawings on or within the bark of a tree. Oftentimes, the CMTs have grown over these modifications, concealing them from obvious notice.
CMTs are valuable as wood products from an economic standpoint. These trees are often large and therefore high quality timber. Silvicultural practices in areas where CMTs exist can be challenging. The trees may stand or lay in the way of excavation plans and logging roads. This can lead to increased expenses when it comes to modifying logging plans and redirecting large equipment. Art collectors or museums may want to purchase the arborgraphs or arborglyphs for personal art collections.
While this last reason may be viewed as an alternate way of preserving these cultural specimens, I believe it is important to let CMTs remain in their original locations. CMTs are found today in places that range from the middle of the forest to the middle of a large city. They indicate the trends in Native American tribes- where people settled and how far they were willing to go for necessary products. These trees are living and intact archaeological sites that often do not require excavation in order to be studied. There is a unique cultural connection that they provide to aboriginal descendants and everyone living in North America today. They demonstrate everyday activities that were practiced by native people, activities that were not written down and all too often become forgotten and lost over the years.