| One of the most important aspects of a land | | | | in the ground. |
| survey is the marking of corners and boundaries. | | | | Bearing trees were also occasionally used. These |
| The objects used to mark such landmarks are | | | | were large trees on the property, which were |
| called monuments. Monuments are typically placed | | | | carefully measured from the property lines. Then |
| on a tract of land at the first survey, often when | | | | the bark would be peeled away from a section on |
| the land was originally subdivided to be sold as | | | | the side of the tree, with identifying information |
| individual lots. Over the years they may be | | | | inscribed onto this area. The problem with such |
| replaced as the original survey markers go missing | | | | trees is that they may die of natural causes or |
| or are destroyed, or as that plot of land is | | | | be cut by loggers long before their inscription is |
| subdivided into even smaller pieces. | | | | needed by surveyors or landowners. |
| The objects used for land surveying monuments | | | | In many cases, state regulations prescribe exactly |
| are actually quite important. While the actual | | | | how the boundaries should be marked. These |
| boundary or corner cannot be destroyed, the | | | | regulations often go into extraordinary detail about |
| object marking its location can be, leading to | | | | how the monument should be constructed and |
| confusion or an incorrect location later on. Land | | | | how it should be marked. These instructions can |
| surveying markers should be designed to be as | | | | help future land surveyors decode the original |
| permanent as possible to aid in later surveys or | | | | survey monuments to reconstruct the boundary |
| land development projects. These land surveying | | | | lines. |
| landmarks can be of great interest to future | | | | Monuments should have three characteristics, no |
| surveyors or landowners, and can often mitigate | | | | matter which type of land they are used to mark. |
| the need for a survey to settle a dispute in | | | | They should be durable, such as metal, stone, or |
| future years. By locating these monuments the | | | | concrete. They should be readily identifiable as a |
| original property line can be reconstructed. | | | | survey monument even by the general public. |
| Most land surveys, even those dating back | | | | They should include identifying information as to |
| centuries, recorded the material of these | | | | the surveyor and the particular corner marked by |
| monuments. Examples from decades past include | | | | the monument. In fact, these three characteristics |
| a gun barrel, a cedar post, and stones. Typically, | | | | are often included as part of the state law |
| corners of townships or sections were marked | | | | regarding land surveyor monument. |
| with either an etched stone or a marked wooden | | | | Unfortunately, many monuments do not last as |
| post. Special notches in the sides of the post or | | | | long as they are meant to. Bulldozing, the laying of |
| stone could be used to tell how many miles the | | | | water or sewer lines, and other property |
| monument was located from the boundary of the | | | | developments may disrupt the original monument, |
| township in any direction. Iron pipes with a bras | | | | either destroying it or moving its location. Often |
| cap, or aluminum monuments, gas pipes, and | | | | they may be taken as souvenirs from those |
| other metal poles are also common choices for | | | | hunting for old tools, arrowheads, and other |
| surveying monuments. | | | | artifacts. This is especially true when the land |
| Dimensions and materials should be described in | | | | surveying monument is placed on old farmland or |
| minute details within the land survey records. | | | | any other area where searchers may find it and |
| However, it is important to note that field | | | | think it is a suitable artifact for their collection. |
| descriptions, particularly during the nineteenth | | | | Land boundary monuments should never be taken |
| century, sometimes do not match up with the | | | | from their original location; it is possible for them |
| physical monuments. Today, stones are more | | | | to still serve a purpose even decades or centuries |
| frequently found intact than the original wooden | | | | after the original survey that resulted in their |
| posts, which have rotted away with time, | | | | placement. |
| although the base may still be found, rotted away | | | | |