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The most difficult aspect of recording scarred trees is positively identifying them as the result of deliberate human activity. There are many natural activities which can produce similar scarring-the fall of a large branch, bush fires, poor, rocky soil at the base of the tree which affects its natural growth pattern, or insect or animal activity. Natural scarring is much more common than Indigenous scarring.

As a general rule, scars made by people removing bark tend to be regular in shape and located above ground level, and will often show axe marks or other related evidence. Natural scars are often ragged and uneven, have peaked ends, are strangely placed (i.e. they might be very high up the tree), or extend down to the ground surface. The identification of humanly scarred trees is complicated by the fact that trees continue to grow after scarring.

As the bark around the scar continues to grow, the original edges of the scar close over and are no longer clearly definable and, as the tree grows in height, the height of the scar above ground may also increase. Unfortunately, the older the scar, the greater its exposure to weathering and the harder it will be to interpret. Once a tree has been identified as humanly scarred, you then need to decide whether the scarring results from Indigenous or European activity.

In many cases, early white settlers used bark extensively for containers, shingles or roofs, and in these situations the scars may be indistinguishable from Indigenous scarring. Carved trees are much easier to recognise, since the patterns carved into the heartwood of the tree are unmistakably human.

You should record the same type and range of information for a carved tree as a scarred one, bearing in mind that carved trees were often associated with ceremonial grounds or burial sites, so there may well be other, highly sensitive, archaeological evidence in the vicinity. You should also be aware that European surveyors occasionally marked trees with a half-oval or gothic arch (a surveyor’s shield), containing a broad arrow or carved figures and letters. These are immediately recognisable, but should still be recorded.

These are some distinctive signs of scarred trees:

The shape of the scar. Among other things, Indigenous people used bark both for containers and as sheets for shelters. If a scar has a regular outline consistent with a particular known artefact type (e.g. with rounded ends in the case of canoes or containers, or squared ends in the case of shelter slabs), it is likely to be authentic (Long 1998). There are a number of natural factors which can also cause scarring, but all involve the bark being ripped instead of cut off, and all consequently result in scars with jagged and sharp ends. Such natural scars will often continue to ground level.

The height of the scar above ground level. Indigenous people are likely to have removed bark from trees at comfortable working heights. Bearing in mind that the scarring of trees by Indigenous people will probably not have occurred in many areas of Australia within the last 50 years, any tree with a scar with a height above ground of less than 1 meter is unlikely to be of Indigenous origin.

The position of the scar. In the case of canoes and containers, bark was often removed from the convex side of the trunk or branch to give suitably upturned sides to the finished artifact (Long 1998). Some deliberate human scarring removed bark from the branches of the tree, so examine all convex surfaces, not just the trunk. Because the edge of a steel axe is so sharp, the cut marks it tends to produce are typically straight, narrow and often quite deep incisions.

On the left are marks produced by a modern hand steel axe; on the right are marks produced by a nineteenth century trade axe made from wagon sprig iron and dating to the late 1800s.

Virginia Beach real estate is a hot commodity. First time home buyers and families alike have gravitated toward Virginia Beach real estate due to its close proximity of sandy beaches a plethora of activities and entertainment for both adults and children. Here are five of the best districts in Virginia Beach real estate if you’re thinking of relocating you or your family, or if you’re just thinking of investing in Tidewater real estate.

Kings Grant

Located in the northern central part of the city, Kings Grant offers education for all children, including Kings Grant Elementary for children and First Colonial high school. Living in the Kings Grant area also offers close proximity to the Lynnhaven shopping district complete with an upscale shopping mall and additional shopping centers for added convenience.

Bayside

Closer to the Norfolk/Virginia Beach border, Bayside also offers a strong school system and close proximity to the Naval Amphibious Base. Bayside is also in close proximity to Independence Boulevard, which offers a plethora of shopping centers and entertainment hot spots.

Princess Anne/Kempsville

The Princess Anne and Kempsville areas of Virginia Beach real estate offer close proximity to the Virginia Beach Towne Center in the Pembroke area. Town Center includes dining, shopping, and entertainment attractions. Princess Anne is also relatively close to the municipal district of Virginia Beach where the city’s courthouses, jails, and other government buildings are located.

Pungo

Home of the annual Strawberry Festival, Pungo is the most rural of the neighborhoods. Inhabited by approximately 100 residents, Pungo is the best community for families hoping to get away from urban city life, but who would still like to be within driving distance of the shopping districts. Pungo is located approximately ten miles from the heart of Virginia Beach.

Green Run

Boasting the largest Neighborhood Watch programs in Virginia Beach, Green Run has over 15,000 residents and 36 neighborhoods within the district. With recreation centers within close proximity, Green Run also offers several primary, middle and high schools for students.

Blue Topaz comes in various shades of blue.? Whatever its shade, Topaz has a place in beautiful jewelry and intriguing legends.

Being a quartz crystal, Topaz is usually colorless before being transformed through irradiation into its blue color.? The gem is then irradiated to bring out its blue color and heated to make the change permanent.? The color depends on which type of radiation is used.?

Exposing the topaz crystals to neutrons in a nuclear accelerator transforms the color into a deep bluish-green or bluish-gray color commonly referred to as London Blue Topaz.? Exposing the topaz crystals to electrons in a linear accelerator produces the most common color of Blue Topaz – Sky Blue Topaz.? To create the highly saturated colors known as Swiss Blue or Electric Blue, topazes are bathed with a combination of both types of radiation.? After almost a year of “rest,” the radiation levels are cool enough so that they can be worn by consumers.

Most blue topaz has a modest value, so there’s little incentive for gemologists to create synthetic versions of the gem.? By coating quartz crystals with titanium particles, a rainbow of colors is produce that is commonly referred to as Mystic Topaz.? Unfortunately, this treatment isn’t permanent, and the coating is extremely fragile, so the stones must be handled very gently.

Despite its unusual production methods, Topaz serves as a wonderful gemstone because it has a high refractive index and polishes up beautifully.? Having a Moh’s Scale of 8 makes?Topaz one of the hardest gemstones and also makes it very durable and ideal for jewelry.

Blue Topaz?has many mystical and New Age beliefs surrounding it as does all forms of topaz:? it’s said to promoted glandular health, regulates heart rhythm, and reduces inflammations such as arthritis.? The color of Topaz is commonly considered to help clarity of the mind, aid in meditation and forgiveness.? Its calm blue quality is said to help its wearers release their anger, especially from old hurts, fostering forgiveness and reconciliation that leads to a calmer, fuller life.