Cockle Park Tower, Hebron, Morpeth, Northumberland: 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 Cockle Park Tower were sampled for oxygen isotope analysis. One hundred and fifty-one measurements were obtained on latewood from single growth-rings of core CKL-P08 from the east principal rafter, truss 6 (rings –3–150 of the measured ring-width series which spans AD 1430–1580) and 125 measurements were obtained on latewood from single growth-rings of core CKL-P01 from the east principal rafter, truss 2 (rings 2–127 of the measured ring-width series which spans AD 1454–1580). The two isotopic series cross-match when offset by one year. This is consistent with the ring-width cross-matching. The 155-year isotopic mean cross-dates (t =5.14, 1/p=3052 IF=336) with the south-central England oxygen isotope master chronology, at a position that is compatible with that provided by ring-width dendrochronology. The isotopic series CKL-P08 also cross-dates independently, but with lower statistics (t =4.70, 1/p=464 IF=96). Sample CKL-P01 does not cross-match sufficiently strongly to pass the criteria considered for dating, but does return a match consistent with the ring-width dendrochronology. The location of Cockle Park Tower, 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, dating may be possible in this region if long series of isotopic measurements are available. 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:
- 5/2021
- Series:
- Research Report
- Pages:
- 23
- Keywords:
- Dendrochronology Standing Building Oxygen Isotope
