but literally the only way to RC date when the tree was cut is if the timber still has its bark on it.
I didn’t know that. I learn something new everyday.
:^) Having the bark there shows that it didn’t continue to grow for years after the available rings were grown.
I thought that tree ring size was determined by growing conditions and there are variations from year to year. So if you have a piece of wood known to be harvested say in 1600 that was 50 years old, then if you can match up the growth rings with another wood specimen cut down in an unknown time between 1550 and 1600 you could pinpoint the date.