So much to play off of with your post and your title. "Dead" and "Wood." I think, however, the use of "dead" is to lead us away and/or to keep us with the obvious.

But, Chris, I rarely live in the land of the obvious. I see a Greek figural mosaic unfolding with our hero on the right side of the mosaic, hands flying in the air, trying to tell the nearly in view elders, in the center of your piece, that something is about to happen!

I hope that is what you were hoping we would see.

Also, off to the left, I think I see the suggestive salute of the digitus me'dius. Which may be a tongue-in-cheek message from the one composing this piece or a "deep seeded" (sorry) message from the tree.

The final thing, about the title. Deadwood is one of my favorite Western towns in South Dakota, America. It is were Wild Bill Hickok was shot in the back of the head by the rascal Broken Nose Jack" McCall and killed.

I have a wooden road runner mounted on top of a burl similar to this, very nice detail!

Nice texture and detail, nice one.