Marker trees or Trail trees were made and used by Eastern North American Native Tribes.
They would bend small trees (saplings) over and fasten to the ground. This forced the tree to grow in a deformed manner.
The trail trees are still found through out the Eastern United States. A great amount are in the Mississippi Valley, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois,Wisconsin,Michigan, Indiana and Missouri.
photo source... ejanham.com/Indiantrails.html
As time marches on these trees will be gone and join the Indians who made them.
More Info.
http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2013/12/indian-trail-trees.html