dendrochronology

Have any of you ever used this technology to date timbers? I'd like to have some samples dated and would like a reference on someone to use.

I learned of one guy in Oxford, England via History Detectives on PBS. Is there anyone who does this domestically?

I have some timbers from an old barn I dismantled; incredibly slow growing Hemlock (my best guess). Within a 3x4 brace i can count 350 rings (under a microscope) and see within about 10-15 rings of the heart. this barn was built in the mid/late 18's so i can come up with a felling date of around 1500+/- if I assume the tree was only as big as the brace (~8" diameter max).

I want to be able to label significant National events with flags on the rings and display it in the house, so am looking for better accuracy in my work.... I'd love to be able to put a flag saying "Christopher Columbus lands".

Thanks.

Shaun

Hi Shaun,

Sounds like a fun project!

Contact:

Anne Grady
Oxford Dendrochronological Laboratory
10 Trotting Horse Dr.
Lexington, MA 02421
781-862-8977
www,dendrochronology.com

If this works out for you it would make a great article to submit to Ken Rower for consideration for publication in Timber Framing.

Good luck and happy holidays!

Rudy

Thanks Rudy,

I just spoke with Anne Grady on the phone. A nice woman. Unfortunitely, my samples are not well suited to a dendro analysis, party because they are softwood and more significantly because i do not have any sap wood to mark and end point on the trees growth.

She did lead me to Bill Flynt of Historic Deerfield who may be able to help in some way. I wll try him but I am getting the sense that my date based on a visual ring count and a few assumptions may be the best I am going to get....