Hemlock's unique annual cork-scars
Published by espringer,
By my count, at least 24 years’ worth of wound cork were recovered to cover the area of the initial injury. The most likely causes of the initial wound, according to Tom Wessels, would have been logging (passing loads scraping the lower trunk) or fire. Since the tree is right next to what was a main road through this property, some kind of human activity, logging or otherwise, seems likely.