Dacre Hall, Lanercost Priory, Burtholme, Cumbria: Oxygen Isotope Dendrochronology of Oak Timbers
Author(s): Neil J Loader, Darren Davies, Danny McCarroll, Daniel Miles, Cathy Tyers, Giles Young
As part of an initiative to investigate the practical extent of the south-central England chronology for isotopic dating, two timbers that had been securely dated by ring-width dendrochronology from Dacre Hall were sampled for oxygen isotope analysis. Sixty-five measurements were obtained on latewood from single growth-rings of core LCP-A17 from main floor beam 1 in the first-floor frame (rings 2–66 of the measured ring-width series which spans AD 1369–1491) and 62 measurements were obtained on latewood from single growth-rings of core LCP-A25 from joist 7, bay 4, in the first-floor frame (rings 0–61 of the measured ring-width series which spans AD 1364–1481). The two isotopic series cross-match when offset by 10 years. This is consistent with the ring-width cross-matching. The 72-year isotopic mean cross-dates tentatively (t =4.69, 1/p=174, IF=20) with the south-central England oxygen isotope master chronology, at a position that is compatible with that provided by ring-width dendrochronology. The two isotopic series independently do not date. The location of Dacre Hall, well to the north of the south-central England master chronology is currently challenging for oxygen isotope dendrochronology. This initial study suggests that, at present, secure dating may not be routinely obtained from short series of isotopic measurements on single timbers in this region. An oxygen isotope master chronology for northern England is likely required to enhance the potential for applying oxygen isotope dendrochronology in this region.
- Report Number:
- 228/2020
- Series:
- Research Report
- Pages:
- 23
- Keywords:
- Dendrochronology Standing Building Oxygen Isotope
