Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T04:23:36.126Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Informing Conservation: Towards 14C Wiggle-Matching of Short Tree-Ring Sequences from Medieval Buildings in England

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 August 2016

A Bayliss ,
P Marshall ,
C Tyers ,
C Bronk Ramsey ,
G Cook ,
S P H T Freeman  and
S Griffiths
A Bayliss
Affiliation:
Historic England, 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, London, UK
P Marshall*
Affiliation:
Historic England, 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, London, UK
C Tyers
Affiliation:
Historic England, 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, London, UK
C Bronk Ramsey
Affiliation:
Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, Dyson Perrins Building, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK
G Cook
Affiliation:
Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, Rankine Avenue, East Kilbride, Scotland G75 0QF, UK
S P H T Freeman
Affiliation:
Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, Rankine Avenue, East Kilbride, Scotland G75 0QF, UK
S Griffiths
Affiliation:
University of Central Lancashire, Archaeology, School of Forensic and Applied Sciences, Preston, UK
*
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected].
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This study tested whether accurate dating by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon wiggle-matching of short tree-ring series (~30 annual rings) in the Medieval period could be achieved. Scientific dating plays a central role in the conservation of historic buildings in England. Precise dating helps assess the significance of particular buildings or elements of their fabric, thus allowing us to make informed decisions about their repair and protection. Consequently, considerable weight, both financial and legal, can be attached to the precision and accuracy of this dating. Dendrochronology is the method of choice, but in a proportion of cases this is unable to provide calendar dates. Hence, we would like to be able to use 14C wiggle-matching to provide a comparable level of precision and reliability, particularly on shorter tree-ring sequences (~30 annual growth rings) that up until now would not routinely be sampled. We present the results of AMS wiggle-matching five oak tree-ring sequences, spanning the period covered by the vast majority of surviving Medieval buildings in England (about AD 1180–1540) when currently we have only decadal and bidecadal calibration data.

Keywords

radiocarbon AMS datingMedievaldendrochronologycalibration
Type
Studies of Calibration, Environment, and Soils
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 59 , Special Issue 3: Proceedings of the 22nd International Radiocarbon Conference (Part 2 of 2) , June 2017 , pp. 985 - 1007
Copyright
© 2016 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Selected Papers from the 2015 Radiocarbon Conference, Dakar, Senegal, 16–20 November 2015

References

REFERENCES

Arnold, AJ, Howard, RE, Litton, CD. 2004. Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from the Roof of St Catherine’s Chapel (South-East Transept), Wells Cathedral, Somerset. English Heritage Centre for Archaeology Report 64/2004, London.Google Scholar
Arnold, AJ, Howard, RE, Litton, CD. 2006. Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from Low Harperley Farmhouse, Wolsingham, County Durham. English Heritage Research Department Report Series 6/2006, London.Google Scholar
Arnold, AJ, Howard, RE, Litton, CD. 2008. List 197 no 11 – Nottingham Tree-Ring Dating Laboratory. Vernacular Architect 39:119–128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arnold, A, Howard, R, Hurford, M. 2009. Abbey Gatehouse and Number 1 The Square, Blanchland, Northumberland: Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers. English Heritage Research Department Report Series 47/2009, London.Google Scholar
Arnold, A, Howard, R, Outram, Z, Cook, G, Bronk Ramsey, C. 2015. North Wing of the Kilve Chantry, Sea Lane, Kilve, Somerset: Tree-Ring and Radiocarbon Dating of Timbers. Historic England Research Report Series 71/2015, London.Google Scholar
Bayliss, A, Bronk Ramsey, C, Cook, G, Freeman, S, Hamilton, WD, van der Plicht, J, Tyers, C. 2014. Scientific Dating of Timbers from the Nave Roof and Ceiling of the Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfred, Ripon, North Yorkshire. English Heritage Research Report Series 73/2014, London.Google Scholar
Bridge, MC. 2001. Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from the Abbey Barn, Glastonbury, Somerset. Centre for Archaeology Report 39/2001, London.Google Scholar
Bridge, MC. 2002a. Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from Meare Manor Farmhouse, St Mary’s Road, Meare, Somerset. English Heritage Centre for Archaeology Report 103/2002, London.Google Scholar
Bridge, MC. 2002b. Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from Muchelney Abbey, Muchelney, near Langport, Somerset. English Heritage Centre for Archaeology Report 114/2002, London.Google Scholar
Bridge, MC. 2003. Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from Fiddleford Manor, Calf Close Lane, Sturminster Newton, Dorset. English Heritage Centre for Archaeology Report 13/2003, London.Google Scholar
Brock, F, Higham, T, Ditchfield, P, Bronk Ramsey, C. 2010. Current pretreatment methods for AMS radiocarbon dating at the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit (ORAU). Radiocarbon 52(1):103–112.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 2009. Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon 51(1):337–360.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C, van der Plicht, J, Weninger, B. 2001. ‘Wiggle matching’ radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon 43(2A):381–389.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C, Higham, T, Leach, P. 2004. Towards high-precision AMS: progress and limitations. Radiocarbon 46(1):17–24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Christen, JA, Litton, CD. 1995. A Bayesian approach to wiggle-matching. Journal of Archaeological Science 22(6):719–725.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dee, M, Bronk Ramsey, C. 2000. Refinement of the graphite target production at ORAU. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 172(1–4):449–453.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
English Heritage. 1998. Dendrochronology: Guidelines on Producing and Interpreting Dendrochronological Dates. London.Google Scholar
Esling, J, Howard, RE, Laxton, RR, Litton, CD, Simpson, WG. 1990. List 33 no 11a - Nottingham University Tree-Ring Dating Laboratory results. Vernacular Architect 21:37–40.Google Scholar
Freeman, SPHT, Cook, GT, Dougans, AB, Naysmith, P, Wilcken, KM, Xu, S. 2010. Improved SSAMS performance. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 268(7–8):715–717.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Groves, C. 1994. Tree-Ring Analysis of Oak Timbers from Lodge Farm, Kingston Lacy Estate, Dorset. Ancient Monuments Lab Report 16/94, London.Google Scholar
Groves, C. 2005. Dendrochronological Research in Devon: Phase I. English Heritage Centre for Archaeology Report 56/2005, London.Google Scholar
Groves, C, Hillam, J. 1994. Tree-Ring Analysis of Bradford-on-Avon Tithe Barn, Wiltshire, 1993. Ancient Monuments Lab Report 9/94, London.Google Scholar
Hillam, J, Groves, CM. 1991. Tree-Ring Analysis of Oak Timbers from Aydon Castle, Corbridge, Northumberland. Ancient Monuments Lab Report 42/1991, London.Google Scholar
Hogg, AG, McCormac, FG, Higham, TFG, Reimer, PJ, Baillie, MG, Palmer, JG. 2002. High-precision radiocarbon measurements of contemporaneous tree-ring dated wood from the British Isles and New Zealand: AD 1850–950. Radiocarbon 44(3):633–640.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoper, ST, McCormac, FG, Hogg, AG, Higham, TFG, Head, MJ. 1998. Evaluation of wood pretreatments on oak and cedar. Radiocarbon 40(1):45–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Howard, RE, Laxton, RR, Litton, CD., Simpson, WG. 1991. List 39 no 10 - Nottingham University Tree-Ring Dating Laboratory: results. Vernacular Architect 22:40–43.Google Scholar
Howard, RE, Laxton, RR, Litton, CD, Hook, R, Thornes, R. 1992. List 47 no 3 - Nottingham University Tree-Ring Dating Laboratory: truncated principal trusses project. Vernacular Architect 23:59–61.Google Scholar
Howard, RE, Laxton, RR, Litton, CD. 1996. Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from Mercer’s Hall, Mercer’s Lane, Gloucester. Ancient Monuments Lab Report 13/1996, London.Google Scholar
Howard, RE, Laxton, RR, Litton, CD. 1998a. Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from the Old Rectory, Withington, Gloucestershire. Ancient Monuments Lab Report 38/98, London.Google Scholar
Howard, RE, Laxton, RR, Litton, CD. 1998b. Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from 26 Westgate Street, Gloucester. Ancient Monuments Lab Report 43/1998, London.Google Scholar
Howard, RE, Laxton, RR, Litton, CD. 2001a. Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from Unthank Hall, Stanhope, County Durham. English Heritage Centre for Archaeology Report 4/2001, London.Google Scholar
Howard, RE, Laxton, RR, Litton, CD. 2001b. Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from Halton Castle, near Corbridge. Northumberland. English Heritage Centre for Archaeology Report 96/2001, London.Google Scholar
Hurford, M, Howard, RE, Tyers, C. 2010. Bremhill Court, Bremhill, Wiltshire: Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers. English Heritage Research Department Series 77/2010, London.Google Scholar
Miles, DWH. 2001. Tree Ring Dating of Court Farm Barn, Church Lane, Winterbourne, Gloucestershire. English Heritage Centre for Archaeology Report 34/2001, London.Google Scholar
Miles, DH, Worthington, MJ, Bridge, MC. 2006. Tree-ring dates. Vernacular Architect 37:118–132.Google Scholar
Mills, C. 1988. Dendrochronology in Exeter and its application [PhD thesis]. Sheffield: University of Sheffield.Google Scholar
Nakao, N, Sakamoto, M, Imamura, M. 2014. 14C dating of historical buildings in Japan. Radiocarbon 56(2):691–697.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nayling, N. 1999. Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from the White House, Vowchurch, Herefordshire. Ancient Monuments Lab Report 73/1999, London.Google Scholar
Pearson, GW, Pilcher, JR, Baillie, MGL, Corbett, DM, Qua, F. 1986. High-precision 14C measurement of Irish oaks to show the natural 14C variations from AD 1840 to 5210 BC. Radiocarbon 28(2B):911–934.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reimer, PJ, Bard, E, Bayliss, A, Beck, JW, Blackwell, P, Bronk Ramsey, C, Buck, CE, Cheng, H, Edwards, RL, Friedrich, M, Grootes, PM, Guilderson, TP, Haflidason, H, Hajdas, I, Hatté, C, Heaton, TJ, Hoffmann, DL, Hogg, AG, Hughen, KA, Kaiser, KF, Kromer, B, Manning, SW, Niu, M, Reimer, RW, Richards, DA, Scott, EM, Southon, JR, Staff, RA, Turney, CSM, van der Plicht, J. 2013. IntCal13 and Marine13 radiocarbon age calibration curves 0–50,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon 55(4):1869–1887.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slota, PJ Jr, Jull, AJT, Linick, TW, Toolin, LJ. 1987. Preparation of small samples for 14C accelerator targets by catalytic reduction of CO. Radiocarbon 29(2):303–306.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuiver, M. 1993. A note on single-year calibration of the radiocarbon timescale AD 1510–1954. Radiocarbon 35(1):67–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuiver, M, Reimer, PJ, Braziunas, TF. 1998. High-precision radiocarbon age calibration for terrestrial and marine samples. Radiocarbon 40(3):1127–1151.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tyers, C, Sidell, J, van der Plicht, J, Marshall, P, Cook, C, Bronk Ramsey, C, Bayliss, A. 2009. Wiggle-matching using known-age pine from Jermyn Street, London. Radiocarbon 51(2):385–396.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tyers, C, Hurford, M, Bridge, M. 2014a. Manor Farm Barn, Kingston Deverill, Wiltshire: Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers. English Heritage Research Report Series 64/2014, London.Google Scholar
Tyers, C, Hurford, M, Bridge, M. 2014b. Dauntsey House, Church Lane, Dauntsey, Wiltshire: Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers. English Heritage Research Report Series 62-2014, London.Google Scholar
Tyers, I. 1999. Tree-Ring Analysis of Oak Timbers from the Manor Barn, Avebury, Wiltshire. ARCUS Report 524. Fairbanks: Arctic Research Consortium of the United States.Google Scholar
Tyers, I. 2003. Tree-Ring Analysis of Oak Timbers from the South Transept and Nave Roofs of the Church of St John the Baptist, Bradworthy, Devon. English Heritage Centre for Archaeology Report 2/2003, London.Google Scholar
Tyers, I. 2004. Tree-Ring Analysis of Oak Timbers from St Brannock Church, Braunton, Devon. English Heritage Centre for Archaeology Report 81/2004, London.Google Scholar
Vandeputte, K, Moens, L, Dams, R. 1996. Improved sealed-tube combustion of organic samples to CO2 for stable isotopic analysis, radiocarbon dating and percent carbon determinations. Analytical Letters 29(15):2761–2773.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van der Plicht, J, Jansma, E, Kars, H. 1995. The “Amsterdam Castle”: a case study of wiggle matching and the proper calibration curve. Radiocarbon 37(3):965–968.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ward, GK, Wilson, SR. 1978. Procedures for comparing and combining radiocarbon age determinations: a critique. Archaeometry 20(1):19–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar