It would have to be recent, wouldn’t it?
It it were chest high today (as seen on photo), how do you account for tree growth over the past decades, not to mention century?
If it were carved 100-200 years ago, would it not be a lot higher up on the tree, as it grew?
No, it would stay the same height. The growth around the carving would determine the age. Like I said, that tree is not that old and I said the carving is about 40 to 50 years old..if that.
BTW, If they leave that tree up, it will most likely blow down or break off at that carving since it is weak there now. That tree is now out in the open with nothing around to shelter it from the wind.
NW injun arborglyph's have been covered pretty well.
Trees get taller at the top, not the bottom. The shoot apical meristem is way up above the face and getting farther.