Ken;

When European timber framing was first being employed in North America the Nature of the available timber immediately changed some basic aspects of how structures were designed; Long, continuous plates replaced the European multi-scarfed model. Also, Traditional framing, here, as in Europe and elsewhere, generally does not place the scarf joint over the post, near it, yes, but not over it. The lower table of the scarf is typicaly supported by the brace. It's true that in Mill construction, scarves Do fall directly over posts.