Culturally Modified Trees in the Southern Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon

The purpose of this thesis is to identify factors that play a role in the location of a type of culturally modified tree created by Native Americans, known as cambium peeled trees, within the Malheur National Forest in eastern Oregon. Cambium peeled trees (CPTs) are created by peeling back the outer bark to reach the inner layer of bark called cambium. Over the past 50 years, archaeologists have realized the existence and the importance of CPTs. These trees are living archaeological sites that are susceptible to environmental factors like age, fire, drought and disease and human activities such as logging and defacement. By identifying environmental factors that play a role in the location of CPTs it is possible to identify areas within the Malheur National Forest in which these trees can be located and thus ensure their protection.