Timber can refer to worked wood or wood in its natural state. Dendrochronology is the scientific dating method using analysis of tree ring patterns. It allows archaeologists to date pieces of wood and structures to the year they were felled or constructed. However, it can be difficult to determine the exact age due to wood being reused or replaced. A research team used dendrochronology to precisely date four early Neolithic wells in Germany. The wells, constructed from oak wood, are the oldest known timber constructions. Dendrochronology determined the felling years of the trees and the approximate time the wells were built for the Linear Pottery culture settlements. Laser scanning revealed sophisticated woodworking skills and construction techniques of the early Ne

4. Timber
• Timber as worked wood
– Techniques
• Timber as wood, ie natural
– Environmental data
– dendochronology

6. Dendrochronolgy
• scientific method of dating based on the analysis of patterns of tree rings, also known as growth
rings
• Accurate readings allow archaeologists to calibrate readings with radio carbon dates
• archaeologists can use the technique to date a piece of wood and when it was felled
• Difficult to determine age of a structure
• Wood could have been reused from an older feature
• Wood may have been cut down but not used for many years
• Your sample may have been used to replace an older plank, giving the whole structure a false date

9. Many types of tree reliably lay down one tree ring every year.
The wood in these rings once laid down remains unchanged during the life of the tree.
This is very useful as a record of the radiocarbon concentration in the past.
If we have a tree that is 500 years old we can measure the radiocarbon in the 500 rings
and see what radiocarbon concentration corresponds to each calendar year.
Using very old trees eg Bristlecone Pines in the western U.S.A.), it is possible to make
measurements back to a few thousand years ago.

10. Why is it necessary for archaeologists to adopt a range
of excavation strategies?

11. Responses to this question at the lower end of the scale will describe the excavation of
one or two sites known to them without a consideration of the benefits and limitations,
or describe each of the main excavation strategies learned in class giving the
advantages and disadvantages of each.
trail trenches,
open area,
grid and quadrant,
sondage,
test pits,
planum,
sectioning
Cumulative sectioning.
Better responses will consider case studies, discussing why different techniques are
applicable to different situations, or consider each technique in turn (as above) but link
it to case study material.
Likely case studies: Time Team Big Roman Dig . Canterbury or London, Sutton Hoo,
Boxgrove.

12. Research team from University of Freiburg has succeeded in precisely dating four
water wells built by the first Central European agricultural civilization with the help
of dendrochronology
•The wells were excavated at “Linear Pottery culture” settlements in Leipzig region
•oldest known timber constructions in the world.
•The four early Neolithic wells were constructed from oak wood
•Many other waterlogged organic materials, such as plant remains, wooden
artefacts, bark vessels, and richly decorated ceramic vessels, have survived for
millennia sealed below groundwater level.
•With the help of dendrochronology, the scientists were able to determine the
exact felling years of the trees and thus also the approximate time at which the
wells were constructed.
•Using laser scanning technology, the scientists collected data on the timbers and
tool marks and documented the highly developed woodworking skills of the early
Neolithic settlers.
•The very well-preserved tool marks and timber joints testify to unexpectedly
sophisticated timber construction techniques.