Monument
A physical marker placed at a survey corner to permanently identify the location on the ground.
Detailed Definition
A monument is a physical object or marker placed at a survey corner to permanently identify and preserve the location of that corner on the ground. Monuments are the controlling evidence of boundary locations.
Types of monuments
Original monuments (historical): - Wooden posts or stakes - Marked trees (bearing trees) - Stone mounds or pits - Charcoal or glass deposits
Modern monuments: - Iron pipes or posts - Brass caps on iron posts - Concrete monuments with brass caps - Aluminum caps - Rebar with plastic caps
Monument markings: Standard markings include: - Township and range designation - Section numbers - Date of survey - Surveyor's initials - Agency identification (BLM)
Legal principles: - Original monuments control over all other evidence - Lost monuments may be restored through proper procedures - Obliterated monuments may be re-established at original location - Monuments prevail over distances or bearings
Corner perpetuation: Many states have corner perpetuation programs requiring: - Registration of corner locations - GPS coordinates - Reference ties to permanent features - Notifications before disturbance
Monuments are the physical manifestation of the legal land framework and are protected by law.
Related Terms
PLSS
The Public Land Survey System, a method of subdividing and describing land in the United States using townships, ranges, and sections.
Section Corner
A surveyed point marking the intersection of section lines, monumented on the ground to define section boundaries.
Quarter Corner
A surveyed point set midway between section corners, marking the boundaries of quarter sections.
Bearing Tree
A tree marked to witness the location of a nearby survey corner, recording bearing and distance to the corner.