Church of Saint Mabena, Saint Mabyn, Cornwall: 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 the church of St Mabena, St Mabyn, Cornwall were sampled for oxygen isotope analysis. Sixty-three measurements were obtained on latewood from single growth-rings of core SMC-04 from the north brace of truss 9 (rings 1–63 of the measured ring-width series which spans AD 1421–1494) in the north aisle and 82 measurements were obtained on latewood from single growth-rings of core SMC-14 from the north rafter of truss 40 (rings 0–82 of the measured ring-width series which spans AD 1413–1495) in the north aisle. The two isotopic series cross-match when offset by 11 years. This is consistent with the ring-width cross-matching. The 82-year isotopic mean cross-dates (t =7.40, 1/p > 1 million, IF > 1000) 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 cross-date independently at positions consistent with the ring-width dendrochronology. The location of the church of St Mabena, well to the south-west of the south-central England master chronology is in an area, Cornwall, that can be challenging for ringwidth dendrochronology. This initial study suggests that, at present, secure dating may be obtained from series of isotopic measurements on single or multiple timbers in this region. An oxygen isotope master chronology for south-western England may further enhance the potential for applying oxygen isotope dendrochronology in this region.
- Report Number:
- 8/2021
- Series:
- Research Report
- Pages:
- 22
- Keywords:
- Dendrochronology Standing Building Oxygen Isotope
