Linda,

Many red cedars started out as fence posts.  I think when they were cut to be used as a fence post they were not cured properly or long enough and they end up resprouting.  The best example I saw of that was at Ft. Eustis, Virginia back around the mid 1980s.  It became a military base ca. 1914 taking over a number of farms on Mulberry Island.  During survey one day I saw a nice long line of mature red cedar trees (ca. 1-2 ft. diameter) which caught my eye.  At the end of the row was a much larger red cedar with the outer end of a beautiful hand-forged gate hinge projecting out of it.  The tree over the course of at least 70 years had grown over the hinge portion of the gate hinge.  After that day's survey I was able to confirm the presence of a driveway to a farmhouse in that location on beautifully prepared maps drawn up when the base was founded.  And yes we also found lots of daffodils and other exotics in the location of the house.  

On the same survey we saw some portions of the base where long-leaf pine was being thinned/logged.  I counted the rings on a few stumps and they conformed with the military takeover of the island, about 70 years old and also reflecting the succession from agricultural fields (shown on the maps) to an coastal artillary practice range for World War I which allowed species which thrive in disturbed soils to take over. Poison ivy was ubiquitous across the island with some big hairy vines as big as my arm growing up the 50-60 foot height of the pines.  Ahhhh, very scary!  As suggested the poison ivy probably came out with the succession.  

Harding Polk II
Archaeologist
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Albuquerque, NM


-----Original Message-----
From: Linda Stine <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thu, Mar 24, 2011 10:10 am
Subject: Re: Vegetation and Historic Sites


Thanks everyone for the info!  I see the same patterns and can add that
ater farmsteads often have small yellow daffodils that come out really
arly, also "cotton tuffs" that are an early version of spirea I think which
re white or pink flowered bushes, and the obligatory row of "tiger lilies"
n bright orange up the path or drive.  I also see a lot of nut and fruit
rees.  Anyone really know why cemeteries seem to always have red cedars?
oil conditions?  Deliberate planting?  LFS
On Thu, Mar 24, 2011 at 11:21 AM, Webb, Paul (Chapel Hill,NC-US) <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Re this discussion, some of you might find this brochure by the Reviving
 Americas Food Traditions of interest:

 http://jeweloftheblueridge.com/Images/AppalachiaPlace-BasedFoods.pdf

 Paul


 -----Original Message-----
 From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Linda
 Derry
 Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 11:20 AM
 To: [log in to unmask]
 Subject: Re: Vegetation and Historic Sites

 Joe, how about giving us the first and last letter.  I'm dying to know.

 Linda Derry

 -----Original Message-----
 From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Joe
 Dent
 Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 9:22 AM
 To: [log in to unmask]
 Subject: Re: Vegetation and Historic Sites

 Same but different trees (aside from black walnut) and plants in
 Appalachia. Day Lilly is especially prevalent around former home lots,
 particularly in vicinity of former privy. Locals still today in fact have
 special name for them in that context (propriety prevents me from repeating
 regional colloquial label for such).

 Joe Dent
 American University
 ----- Original Message -----
 From: "Smoke" <[log in to unmask]>
 To: [log in to unmask]
 Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 10:11:06 AM
 Subject: Re: Vegetation and Historic Sites

 In Arkansas, we can often tell we are approching an historic site by
 the vegetation long before we actuall reach the site.  Large Walnut
 trees (food and shade), large White Oak shade trees, Persimmon,
 Catalba, Pecan, large Mullberry, Yucca, Jonquils, Day Lillies, Iris,
 Forscythia, Gooseberries, and Golden Rod are the most common.


 On Wed, Mar 23, 2011 at 5:20 PM, Brad Laffitte <[log in to unmask]>
 wrote:
 > All:
 >
 > I am having trouble finding resources discussing vegetation commonly
 associated with historic sites in the Louisiana area or the southeast U.S.
  I've seen resources briefly discussing vegetation patterning (e.g., rows of
 live oaks or non-native planted trees/shrubs may equal a homestead), but
 nothing with respect to specific vegetation types that can be tied or
 potentially tied to historic sites.
 >
 > If anyone is aware of anything on this subject please let me know.  My
 email is [log in to unmask]  Thanks.
 >

 --
 Smoke Pfeiffer

 Laws do not represent either reason or justice.
 They represent force.


-- 
r. Linda France Stine, RPA
36-256-1098
36 Graham Building