What is the oldest method of land description known as?

The oldest method of land description is known as metes and bounds. This system traces its origins back to ancient civilizations and was commonly used in England before the adoption of more standardized land survey methods. Metes and bounds relies on physical features of the landscape, such as trees, rivers, and roads, as well as angles and distances to define the perimeter of a parcel of land.

Typically, this method begins at a designated point, called the point of beginning, and then describes the boundaries in a sequential manner, using a combination of measurements (metes) and landmarks (bounds). This approach is particularly useful for irregularly shaped parcels of land where more structured systems, such as those based on grids or townships, may not effectively convey the precise location.

The other methods listed, such as township and the plat method, are more modern and reflect a move towards more systematic approaches to land description, which provide clear, standardized frameworks for identifying and dividing land parcels. The legal description is a broader term that encompasses all forms of land descriptions, including metes and bounds, township, and plat systems, but it does not indicate a distinct method of description itself. Thus, metes and bounds remains the correct choice as the oldest established practice in land description