Culturally Modified Trees: A Living Museum
To the unpracticed eye, scarred patches on the bark of red and yellow cedar trees in Green Inlet may appear insignificant. But to anthropologists and archaeologists trained in the interpretation of Culturally Modified Trees, they are dramatic living evidence of early First Nations habitation.

A Culturally Modified Tree (CMT) is a tree that has been altered by aboriginal people as part of their traditional use of the forests. Identification and interpretation of CMT's provide evidence of traditional use and occupation by First Nations groups, and sometimes assist in locating other archaeological remains.

Trees That Tell A Story: Many kinds of CMT's are visible in the rainforests of the Pacific coast, chronicling a history of aboriginal forest utilization that dates back at least 3,000 years. (Analysis of plant pollen suggests that red cedar became a common forest species in coastal British Columbia 4,000 - 6,000 years ago.) Among the types of CMT's identified:
• Tapered Bark Scars, usually found on western red or yellow cedar. A horizontal cut was made through the bark at the base of the tree and the soft inner bark was pulled away until the upper end tapered and broke away. Fibrous inner bark was used to make clothing, twine, rope, blankets and mats. Bark-stripped trees are often found far inland, suggesting that early aboriginals penetrated deep into the forest.
• Rectangular Bark Scars, resulting from removal of large slabs of outer cedar bark ("bark boards") for use in roofing material or canoe covers. Small rectangles of bark were also taken from western hemlock, spruce, Douglas fir, yew and some deciduous trees for use in foods, medicines and dyes.
• Undercut Trees have a wedge-shaped area of missing wood and bark that was removed during the initial stage of felling the tree. They provide evidence that the work was abandoned and the tree was left alive and standing.
• Planked Trees have notches chopped in the trunk at the bottom and top of a desired length of plank. The plank was pried off with wedges or crossbars and used in canoe-building or other construction. The tree was left standing.
• Stumps and Logs, remaining from trees felled for use in canoes, houseposts or poles. For energy-saving purposes, felled trees (usually large, straight cedars) were harvested close to the shore of a navigable waterway. "Flat-topped" and "basin-topped" stumps are the result of complete girdling of the tree with chisels and wedges. "Barberchair" stumps were created by a massive undercut at a steep angle. "Stepped" stumps resulted from an initial undercut, followed by a backcut, similar to modern logging techniques.

Strewn among the trees, logs and woody debris of the West Coast rainforest, other kinds of CMT's provide clues to the nature of early aboriginal life. Collection of kindling and pitch, the use of branches for shelter or food drying, the marking of trails and the ceremonial role of trees have all left traces that can be interpreted by the trained observer.

What The Trees Tell Us
Anthropologists and archaeologists have many reasons for studying culturally modified trees:
• CMT studies are less intrusive than standard archeological excavation.
• An understanding of aboriginal forest utilization provides clues to the social, economic and political organization of First Nations societies, and how they changed over time.
• An understanding of traditional approaches to selective and sustainable logging may be applicable to current forestry practices.
• Precise dating of CMT's can be used to establish a chronology of land use and occupation, as well as technological development. It can also provide information about population shifts, village histories, disease outbreaks and other catastrophic events.
• Highly visible CMT's are useful for teaching purposes, and offer a high potential for cultural tourism.