If These Trees Could Talk Studying the Comanche marker trees of Texas

[IsailedawayfromFR]

I found this very interesting as I never knew Indians used to bend trees to convey messages.

No historical marker indicates that this particular pecan tree near the grounds of the Texas National Guard Armory in northwest Dallas is special—just the fact that its trunk grows along the ground for about 25 feet before turning upward. Sometimes natural forces, such as ice storms, can bend trees into strange shapes like this. But for this pecan, its shape is no accident.

Steve Houser, a local arborist and founding member of the Texas Historic Tree Coalition, traces his fingers over scars on the tree’s trunk, signs indicating humans may have lashed down the trunk with yucca rope some 150 years ago, when it was a flexible sapling. The bent tree, known as the California Crossing marker tree, points to a low-water crossing on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, offering valuable information to those who would have recognized it as a marker tree.

“The typical settler would go right by,” says Houser, chairman of the coalition’s Indian Marker Tree Committee. “A Comanche would see it and follow it. Trees told them where to go to.”
https://www.texashighways.com/history/item/8707-if-these-trees-could-talk-comanche-indian-marker-trees-texas

[berdie]

I had a pecan tree at the back of my property that grew along the ground. Given the area I live in...I was always told that the Indians altered its normal growth.

I had a friend's daughter, when she was young, call it the party tree. I was very sad to see the tree die.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

I had a pecan tree at the back of my property that grew along the ground. Given the area I live in...I was always told that the Indians altered its normal growth.

I had a friend's daughter, when she was young, call it the party tree. I was very sad to see the tree die.

It is fascinating, whether it is true or not.

[Sanguine]

Great story.

[ABX]

It wasn't just the Comanche that did this. The Caddo made marker trees too. We have a very obvious one right near our property in a known Caddo area, pointing right to a nearby stream.

[corbe]

    Very interesting Post @IsailedawayfromFR  Thanks for sharing.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

    Very interesting Post @IsailedawayfromFR  Thanks for sharing.

  thx I have taken the Texas Highways since the mid 70s, even when I lived outside Texas for 24 years and was overseas.

Great magazine.  Pictures alone are worth it.

@corbe @Sanguine

[Sanguine]

  thx I have taken the Texas Highways since the mid 70s, even when I lived outside Texas for 24 years and was overseas.

Great magazine.  Pictures alone are worth it.

@corbe @Sanguine

Yes, they are!  I wanted to work for them when I was much younger.  Never did.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Yes, they are!  I wanted to work for them when I was much younger.  Never did.

Naw, you were waiting to you got older so you can do the political thing instead.  Let me know address when you run so I can send the check to the right place.

[Forum member]

My dad showed me some marker trees in Arkansas in the 60's.

[Sanguine]

Naw, you were waiting to you got older so you can do the political thing instead.  Let me know address when you run so I can send the check to the right place.

Much appreciated!