March 20, 1962, died #OTD, American astronomer Andrew Ellicott Douglas. Recognizing the influence of solar input on tree growth, he uses ancient wood samples to date 2 archaeological sites, the beginning of #dendrochronology 🌲
My little window into the 11th century, analysing tree-rings in a waterlogged oak sample from an excavation in SW Scotland. Analysis ongoing. #dendrochronology#archaeology#medieval#Scotland
In my happy place. Measuring tree-rings on waterlogged oak timbers excavated from a medieval site in Scotland. The oaks are very slow grown. I use pins to mark the decades while measuring. This timber is only about 11cm long and has about 200 rings present. Early days but some nice results emerging. #dendrochronology#archaeology#scotland
How it started and how it's going, Latvian #hillfort in Lelindricas edition. The sequence of uncovering wooden constructions of a rampart in our test pit (1 × 3 m).
At first we thought it was just a burnt tree trunk. Then it became clear we were dealing with woden construction. Now we hope for at least #radiocarbon dates if not some #dendrochronology.
One of many characterful ancient oaks at Lochwood in Dumfriesshire, Scotland for #thicktrunktuesday
Within the wood, a motte and a ruined medieval castle hark back to the glory days of Clan Johnstone. Dendrochronology has revealed tree-ring records back to the 1500s but some Lochwood oaks are probably older. #scotland#dendrochronology#oak