Along a Canadian highway I saw...?

Question

Flat rocks that were stacked to form the shape of a human with its arms stretched out to the sides. I saw several of them along the highways. What are they and do they have a name?

Answer 1

It's an inukshuk, "he who shows the way" They are all over the Canadian Arctic, and apparently used to be route markers.

You may see them in other countries too. We left one in the UK. It's a sort of  "Canadians were here" sign.

Answer 2

I agree with all answers. Many people build them just to be interesting when they are hitchhiking unsuccessfully ;).  

Answer 3

What you saw was an inukshuk (here's some good info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inukshuk).  I think it's an Inuit thing (possibly used by other groups, I'm not sure), used for navigating.  Some friends and I build them for fun when hiking in remote areas, or sometimes we each add a stone to already built ones.  

Answer 4

it sounds like an inukshuk.  they originate from the aboriginals (native americans) from the north.

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