Timber project to explore Shropshire's medieval heritage

University of Bristol ^ | 16 January 2015 | press release

[SunkenCiv]

The grant will allow the team to archaeologically survey the village using a variety of methods, with particular focus on the group of timber-framed buildings which are present on an estate map of 1631. Many of these buildings probably have their origins within the medieval period.

Dr Nash said: "Based on place-name evidence, the village of Tilley probably has its origins during the Early Medieval (Anglo-Saxon) period. The 'ley' element of Tilley translates into 'leah', meaning wood clearing."

The project, one of the largest of its kind, will include a dendrochronology survey of 28 buildings that stand within the Tilley township. Dendrochronology is the study of dating timbers through calibrated tree-ring growth. So accurate is this method that dendro-specialists can determine the date of when a tree was felled and also often pinpoint the season.

Noted dendro-specialist, Dr Andy Moir, appointed by the Tilley Timber Project to sample and date the timbers, has found that four of the seven timbers samples from one building -- Brook Farm -- have a date range of 161 years, the earliest date being 1419, the latest 1579, with one timber being felled during the winter of 1579/80. However, the building's boxed-framed architectural style suggests the timbers should have a much later date.

In addition to the dendro-survey, the project team will also investigate the numerous carpenters' marks, timber joints and decorative styles, in particular the ornate carving detail on several of the high status building that stand within the township.

Other survey methods to be used for the project include 3D laser scanning, undertaken by Andy Beardsley of Terra Measurement...

[SunkenCiv]

The rear western elevation of Brook Cottage

[SunkenCiv]

[COBOL2Java]

I did a paper on dendrochronology for my archeology course in college. Pretty cool dating technique.

[SunkenCiv]

It is, and as you must know, it began even before radiocarbon dating in 1950. :’)

[larryjohnson]

My SIL is a timber framer in Maine. I sent him this link.thanks,
Larry

[moose07]

“However, the building’s boxed-framed architectural style suggests the timbers should have a much later date.”

Building timbers used to be re-used from building to building.
The dendro not matching the architecture is nothing unusual, it happens all the time.
Stone buildings are often even worse. Many are made from recycled monastries.
Ship timbers are often found in buildings, that really messes up the dating.

[SunkenCiv]

http://dendro.cornell.edu/reports/report1998.pdf

[snip] A well-preserved juniper post, painted blue and with modern door hinges, was recovered from a modern village house simply because it looked suspiciously old. The sample we were given did not fit anything in our Neolithic inventory, so we sent a piece of it to Heidelberg to see what radiocarbon analysis would reveal. The date is 2117 B.C. +/-110 years, which means it is from some Early Bronze Age occupation near the lake at Kastoria. [/snip]

[moose07]

Thank Mr Civ, read later. :)

[Bigg Red]

Certainly a well-cared for building in that photo. What an interesting study.

[SunkenCiv]

In the US we barely have any structures at all from 400 years ago, it would be a real treat to see whole villages of stuff like this. :’) The church in one of my ancestral hometowns in the UK looks like pretty much any masonry church done in this country prior to WWII — but when I finally read up on it, ‘twas 700-800 years old. :’)

[rdl6989]

bttt

[Bigg Red]

Yes, it would be nice to have a whole village, but I guess we will have to settle for reconstructions like Colonial Williamsburg.

I got to see the so-called Bacon’s Castle in Virginia last fall. A great visit. It’s 350 years old.

[Tainan]

And, just to complicate things, in some places, ships ballast stones were used as building stones. Thus, one can find stones in one location that came from many miles/kilometers away. Sometimes hundreds or even thousands of miles/kilometers distant.