Dating Historical Structures Using Dendrochronology
(The Smithville Pioneer Cabin in downtown Smithville, Ohio.)
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PDF's for download: |
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We are interested in sampling historical structures for their tree-ring records. Our goal is to assemble long tree-ring chronologies from oak trees by sampling both living trees and old wood. The tree-rings extracted from old wood can be calendar-dated and thus we can determine the calendar date the tree was cut. The tree-ring series are also records of past drought. The data will be used by us and others in modeling past droughts in Ohio and together with similar records across North America. |
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The figure to the right is an example of a moisture reconstruction based on tree-ring records from Northeast Ohio. We hope to extend this work by sampling beams in historical structures (ie. houses and barns). Our field research is done at sites in northeast Ohio. Analyses are performed in the WTRL. | |
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What
we can provide you
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What
We Hope To Accomplish
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| If you wish we can supply you
with a written report of the findings of our work. Typically the report
will include a brief statement of methods, a summary of the dates on each
beam and a list of references to learn more about the work. Click
here for sample reports or take a look at our current
and past projects for background information
on each historical structure. |
By linking tree-ring width data from cores taken from beams with tree-ring chronologies from old growth sites around Northeast Ohio we are able to crossdate the cores and assign calendar dates to individual rings. This method is essentially pattern matching that is done by eye and with computer routines.(see accompanying graphic below). |
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Field
Methods
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The increment borers (shown right) are for living
trees. This hollow drill bit cuts a 5mm cylinder of wood out of the
tree. The process does not hurt the tree. Once the core is taken, the
tree quickly fills the hole with sap to protect the small wound. The
drill (bottom left) is used for houses and historical structures - holes
in beams are filled with wooden pegs to hide the hole. However, for
fallen structures or loose beams a chainsaw is used to collect cross-sections
of the beam. (bottom right)
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| Barnet-Hoover Farmhouse - 1818 |  |
Shellar House - (in progress of dating) |
| Smithville Pioneer Cabin - (in progress) |
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| Beall House - 1815-16 | Morgan House - 1835 | |
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| Geiser House - 1835 | Pee Wee Hilton - 1802 |
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HomeThe Wooster Tree Ring Lab · The College of Wooster · Wooster, Ohio 44691· Phone: (330) 263-2298 · Fax: (330) 263-2249 · Email: Gwiles@wooster.edu