Journal article 94 views
Oxygen isotope dendrochronology allows dating of historical timbers across a wide geographical region
Dendrochronologia, Volume: 89, Start page: 126283
Swansea University Authors:
Darren Davies, Danny McCarroll, Neil Loader
Full text not available from this repository: check for access using links below.
DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.dendro.2024.126283
Abstract
We explore the applicability and geographic reach of two northwest European stable oxygen isotope (δ18O) chronologies for the precision dating of annually resolved δ18O series developed from late 15th-century oak (Quercus sp.) roof timbers from St. James’ Church in Bruges, Belgium. In doing so this...
| Published in: | Dendrochronologia |
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| ISSN: | 1125-7865 1612-0051 |
| Published: |
Elsevier BV
2025
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68444 |
| Abstract: |
We explore the applicability and geographic reach of two northwest European stable oxygen isotope (δ18O) chronologies for the precision dating of annually resolved δ18O series developed from late 15th-century oak (Quercus sp.) roof timbers from St. James’ Church in Bruges, Belgium. In doing so this study assesses ring-width dendrochronology and provenance analysis alongside oxygen isotope dendrochronology in Belgium and its surrounding regions.The δ18O-series of the historical timbers display a high internal coherence, allowing the construction of a mean isotope series (1325 to 1468 CE). Cross-dating against master chronologies for Central England, U.K. and Fontainebleau, France, provide reliable matches that surpass statistical thresholds and quality control measures, corroborating the dating results obtained from conventional ring-width dating.Oxygen stable isotope dendrochronology emerges as a valuable tool for precise dating of historical timber structures. This pilot study demonstrates the applicability of existing reference chronologies beyond their core regions and underscores its significance in cultural heritage studies. Despite the demanding nature of the technique in terms of time and expertise, the potential benefits warrant continued investment in expanding the temporal and geographic coverage of well-replicated oxygen isotope reference chronologies. |
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| Keywords: |
Stable isotope dendrochronology, tree-ring dating, Quercus, Bruges, historical roof construction, Middle Ages |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
This work was supported by a UKRI Frontiers grant EP/X025098/1, with additional support from UKRI grants EP/X525637/1 and AH/X00354X/1, Marsden Fund 22-UOA-184 and SSHRC (Canada) 895-2019-1015 and the Agile Cymru Welsh Government grant SC23007.
We thank the QUERCUS project team for laboratory support and Prof. Daux for generously providing the original measurements of the Fontainebleau oxygen isotope chronology. Noël Geirnaert kindly granted access to the roof of Saint James’ Church on multiple occasions.
The authors have no competing interests to declare. |
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126283 |