Salem

I started making a new Timber pile.
It had 27 boards in it already, so there is no reason for it to have disappeared.
I walked away to make more boards and less then 5 minutes later when i went back, it was gone.
Also I live in a secluded sot, so there it cant be blamed on another player destroying it either.
It was on a flat section of bare earth, so there should be no graphics to hide it either.
Where could it have gone?

If it wasnt on claimed land it probably just decayed, and yes it can happen that quickly

well given that timber piles need to be away from objects, i thought off the claim was better
Is there a way to prevent it from going poof other then keeping it on the claim?

Nope. Anything not on a properly upkept claim is subject to decay away.