Totem Poles

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Totem_Park_pole_1.jpg

Totem poles were carved by native peoples of the Northwest Pacific coast of North America.  The totem pole often indicated the kinship of a group in the tribe.  They are often carved from trees.  It may often include the history of a tribe or a message to shame another tribe, as well

Some of the carvings of the polynesian people, specifically their tikis, remind me of totem poles.  The Mayan steles are very similar to totems, as well.  There are also similar types of carving poles in Chinese and other Asian cultures.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tiananmen_huabiao.jpg

It also reminds me of an obelisk to some degree.  In ancient Sumer/Babylon, similar carved rectangular steles/obelisks were used to show history as well.  Here is a picture of one of these items from the Oriental Institute of Chicago:

By Rita Jean Moran (www.thelibrarykids.com)

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totem_pole

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huabiao

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tiananmen_huabiao.jpg (creative commons licensed)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stele