37 minutes ago, Danl said:

John, perhaps you can get in contact with someone from the International Wood Collectors Society to help in identifying the wood. Danl

 

@Danl, great tip and lead, thanks!

Not only is it a great lead for the purpose of this topic, but a great research source for our Patriot Woodwiki, thanks again!

Well it's pretty obvious now what these timbers are. Another trip to haul back some more precious cargo netted a few more pieces, they appear to have been sawn from the same timbers or like set.

 

 

My question is- What was the original purpose of the timber? The shape of the end, that looks like a knob, seems like it must have had some special purpose.

3 minutes ago, lew said:

My question is- What was the original purpose of the timber? The shape of the end, that looks like a knob, seems like it must have had some special purpose.

My only guess on that one Lew, is perhaps that was part of the milling and handling of the timbers, these timbers according to the owner are over 50 years old, if the harvesters in the rain forest were using rudimentary means to handle these very heavy timbers, perhaps they chopped a knob in the top of the timbers for rope tie off, or simply for grabbing by hand, I have used the knob myself to pick up and drag around my garage. It's the only educated guess I can come up with.

Look this image, sourced from this link http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/elist/eListRead/un_issues_new_protections_for_rosewood_trees/

It appears these Rosewood logs may have had that knob on them as well, at one point, then cut off.

 

23 minutes ago, John Morris said:

perhaps they chopped a knob in the top of the timbers for rope tie off, or simply for grabbing by hand

Makes sense