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My youth was misspent in artifact collecting -- which, as a responsible archæologist, I no longer do. (Of course, having developed the ability to re-create lithic artifacts as well as the vast majority of Native americans could make them -- also helped me to wean myself from the "collecting urge"...)
However, now that the loss of fine hand-eye coordination has diminished my knapping skill, I find that "rut nutting" (the discovery and mapping of early roads, trails & traces) can still be enjoyed -- even from the comfort of my recliner! Of course, once I spot (on OHI) where one of the old pathways is crossed by a modern road, it's still a thrill to drive to those coordinates to "ground-truth" it and exclaim, "Yep, there it is!"... '-)
TXnMA
Now that brings to mind a question I've had for a very long time -- can anyone define what exactly is a "trace" and how does it different from a path or trail?
Who would use the word "trace"?
A few miles from my home is a Buffalo Creek and a road named Buffalo Trace, but I'm pretty sure there were never Buffalo near here.