Cairns in Princeton Harbor?

On my walk today, I went through Princeton Harbor, and noticed several piles of cairns in and around the water.

Who put them there, and why?

First off, for those who do not know what a cairn is, it is an artificial pile of stones, often placed in a conical shape. They are built for many reasons, some of which include marking a burial site, as holders for lighthouse-like fires to guide ships, or to commemorate events.

The first that I had ever heard of a cairn was when my husband Michael & I were climbing Mount Tallac in Lake Tahoe, and I saw the neatly piled stones along the way. I asked: “Why the heck are those rocks piled up like that?” Michael: “Those are cairns, sort of directional markers for climbers.”

More recently, we watched a video about the artist Andy Goldsworthy, who piles up stones as pieces of artwork.

Whatever the reason for the cairns in Princeton Harbor, I enjoyed seeing the presence of these purposely-placed stones. Rock on!