Arborglyphs, dendroglyphs, silvaglyphs or modified cultural trees is the carving of shapes and symbols into the bark of living trees. ~Wikipedia

Arborglyphs, what a great word. I love blogging when I learn something new through researching a post. Who would have guessed there was a name for the carvings found scratched into the bark of living trees? I wonder when the first man carved an image into the bark of a living tree.

It would be interesting to know the history of the couples who chiseled their initials into the tree. Are they still together? Do they visit the tree and reminisce? Is it a place of happy sentiment, heartbreak, or both? Only the dozens of blade-wielding risk-takers know the real story. *

These trees are still growing alongside the pond at Bethel Mill Park in Sewell, NJ.

*Carving into living trees is illegal in many areas.