TREE-RING ANALYSIS OF TIMBERS FROM THE FLOOR AND ROOF OF THE GREAT CHAMBER, THE DEANERY, CATHEDRAL CLOSE, EXETER, DEVON
Author(s): Robert Howard, R R Laxton, Cliff Litton
Thirty samples from the floor and roof of the Great Chamber of the Deanery, in the Cathedral Close, at Exeter were analysed by tree-ring dating. This analysis produced four site chronologies. The first, consisting of six samples, has 171 rings spanning the period AD 1233 - AD 1403. The second site chronology, composed of eight samples, has 120 rings but failed to cross-match with any reference chronologies and is thus undated. The third site chronology, consisting of three samples and having 121 rings, also failed to date. The fourth site chronology, consisting of two samples and having 85 rings, indicated a match with a first ring date of AD 1322 and a last measured ring date of AD 1406. A further single sample was dated as spanning the years AD 1314-99. Interpretation of the sapwood on all the dated samples suggest that there may be two phases of felling represented. It is estimated that the timbers of the Great Chamber floor have a felling date in the range AD 1400-35 whilst those of the Great Chamber roof have an estimated felling date in the range AD 1418-53. However, it is possible that all timbers were felled at the same time in the period AD 1413-48.
- Report Number:
- 1/2000
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 39
- Keywords:
- Dendrochronology Standing Building
