Thanks lots Warwick.

I'm from the midwest, familiar with tipi poles but not totem poles.

I knew the Norse and Maori did wood carving, but not whether they installed carved logs vertically (obelisk-like).

I wonder if the Ainu of Northern Japan ever made log carvings. While visiting a shinto temple in Japan, I saw some huge vertical poles (thick) of Japanese cedars (hinoki), but I don't think they were carved, maybe some inscribed kanji script, but no totemic animals.

I mentioned the McKinleywille pole only because I happened to walk over there, it didn't "feel" traditional at all, but I didn't know the rules on historical significance. The Pierson mentioned is a rich home builder here and owns a couple malls and home construction center.

DDeden



Warwick L Nixon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Firstly..sorry for the delay. i was actully away
> from my computer for a few days
>
> as Byrd comments below only the Maori carve free
> standing images in any way similar to the NW Coast
> Amerinds and the Norse I allready mentioned. But
> I think it important to note why...The Wood they
> had to work with. For this you need soft wood ,
> not hard wood, and it must be from a wet climate
> that stimulated the growth and mainly the GIRTH
> needed to start with.
>
> re the world's tallest totem pole
>
>
>
> note teh four metal props at the bottom
>
> note that teh builder designer has no totem
> carving background
>
>
> note that the carving itself is very shallow and
> IMHO Poorly Exectuted
>
> I can't find any backgro9und to indicate if it was
> socketed or not, but I do not think so
>
> now this puppy..
>
>
>
> is the real deal,but again,,,modern means were
> used to erect it
>
> here's a summation...
>
>
>
> you notice teh nme Mungo Martin in reference to
> Alert Bay and Victoria
>
> he ended up being the resident carver at the Royal
> Museum in Victoria
>
> He was also a heriditary chief and mask Carver and
> taught most of the current old masters their
> trade.
>
>
> Warwick
>
> Persistance is Utile