Jim emailed fascinating information on cultural modifications of trees and how they contribute to historical research on forests, click “continue reading” below.
Jim said: “I’d hoped to convey more about fire ecology, tree-ring dating and the various types of tree scars from fire, lightning, porcupine, CMTs. The info below touches the tip of the iceberg.”

From Wikipedia: Culturally Modified Trees (aka CMTs) is a term which describes the modification of trees by indigenous people as part of their tradition. Their meaning for the indigenous cultures is relatively well known, but only from the beginning of the 1980s scientists have recognized that they are also important sources for the history of certain regions. Meanwhile they are even called CMT archives. Although a wide range of results has been produced, and progress has been made as far as methodology is concerned, the CMTs are still rather unknown to the public. Lots of old trees wearing blue belts with the words “culturally modified tree” in Stanley Park/Vancouver attracted considerable interest – and questions.[1]