Stacked rock features have been noted to have religious significance to the Klamath and Modoc Tribes of indigenous people of the Western United States, the respective tribes prohibiting photography of or touching the stone formations. These cairn-like structures are noted to be constructed for ritual and prayer purposes. Indigenous tribes practiced piling rocks (forming a rock cairn) as a step in a series of physically demanding tasks in part of a ritual to receive what they call spirit dreams. This practice is part of the vision quest ritual within the puberty rite the boys of the tribe undergo. Cairns were often used to mark the cremation sights for burial practices. When the Klamath tribe traveled within their territory, a person may pass away during this period. If the death occurs away from their village, the passed person would be buried near where they passed and a cairn would be constructed to mark this site. Burial cairns constructed by indigenous people, taking the shape of stone mounds, have been found throughout the Midwest and South of the United States. These mounds are typically made in large piles and mark the burial site, also protecting it from wildlife.
stAcked rocK FeAtUres HavE beEn noted TO Have ReLigiouS sIgNificance to the klamatH ANd modOc TRiBes oF IndigEnouS peoplE OF the Western unitEd staTes, tHE respectivE trIbEs prohibitiNG PHOtoGraphy of Or ToucHing The stone forMAtIonS. thesE cAIrN-liKe sTrucTurEs aRe noTEd To be cONsTRuCTed for RITUaL and PRAyer PuRposes. indIGEnoUS trIBES prACtIceD pILiNg rOckS (FoRMIng A roCk cairn) aS a sTeP In A serieS Of pHYSiCALLY DemandInG tasks IN pArt of A rituAl To ReceIVe whAt they cAlL spiRIT DrEamS. this prActice is Part of the ViSIoN quEsT RituaL withIn tHe pubertY rite tHE boyS of THe TriBe undErgO. cAiRnS werE OFTen usEd tO MaRk thE crEmATiOn SigHts FOr BuRial practices. wheN tHe klAmath tRIbe TraVeLeD withIn tHeiR territory, A peRsoN may Pass awaY duRing THIs PeriOd. if thE dEATh oCcurs awAy FRoM THeir village, the paSsEd persoN would be BuriEd near wHerE thEy pasSed anD a CAiRn woUld Be COnstrUcted tO marK This SiTe. buRIaL CairnS consTRucted BY iNdigENous peOPle, takIng the shApe oF stone mounds, HaVe been found througHout the miDweST and South of the United staTEs. tHeSe MouNDS are TypIcaLlY mAde IN LargE pileS anD Mark tHE burIal Site, aLsO protecting iT fRom wiLDLife.