Indian Trail Trees

Since my arrival in Georgia I've been learning more about my Native American ancestry and the history of this area. My great grandmother, a Cherokee, traveled on the Trail of Tears. My grandmother told me her mother traveled from Georgia to settle near Arkadelphia in what is now the state of Arkansas. One of the books I checked out of the library the other day is Indian Trail Trees by Elaine Jordan. I'd never heard of trail trees and the book looked intriguing. I wondered if Native Americans intentionally shaped trees to mark trails? After reading the book and doing some research I learned hardwood trees were shaped to mark routes traveled over North America for centuries.

I remembered a home we'd seen for sale; we didn't buy the house but I recalled a huge trail tree in the front yard. I went back to take a photograph of the tree which is shown in the first photograph. This massive trail tree is growing in the front yard of the home and the direction points towards the town of Cleveland Georgia. At the hip of the tree another branch has formed subsequent to the original training of this tree's central leader. The girth of the second central leader is much smaller in diameter.

Here's a diagram excerpted from the book showing one of the methods used by the Native Americans to shape a hardwood tree to form a trail tree. Trail trees were used as directional markers showing routes to resources, camp sites, and river crossings for travelers. Some trees were hollowed out at the nose so messages could be left in the trees. Sometrees were intentionally fashioned taller to show the way for travelers on horseback.

Here's another photo of the trail tree showing a distant view. I wish I had taken another photograph with me in the photo to better show the scale of the tree. Perhaps another time I'll take a trip back to see the tree. Meanwhile I'm busy reading both fictional and non fictional historical novels about Native Americans. The appraisal of our new home is completed and now all that's left is the final paperwork, more about our move in date coming soon.

Stay tuned for news about a clay workshop in North Carolina I'll be taking in the middle of January. Also coming up I'll take you on a tour of a local potter's studio here in Cleveland, Georgia. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.