ABSTRACT
The preservation and interpretation of historic structures and landscapes is often dependent on the accurate identification of significant historic dates. Historians typically use fieldwork and archival sources to document sites. “Tree-ring samples” were created by taking the actual samples from the structure and plotting their ring widths so that they can be printed and examined without the use of a microscope. Sampling was concentrated on wane- and bark-bearing timbers. Cross sections were obtained from timbers that had deteriorated and were going to be replaced in the subsequent renovation. Cross sections were also obtained from an internal wall on the first floor, which was going to be shortened in the renovation to accommodate the creation of a larger passageway between the two rooms. If a similar harvest or cutting date is found for all of the timbers in a building, one can assume the construction date of the building since timbers were used green, or unseasoned.
