The period 1300-1600CE was a time of multifaceted changes. In the Low Countries, timbers in historic buildings, archaeological sites and shipwrecks provide evidence of shifts in wood supply and forestry practices during that time. However, 70% of those timbers derive from fast-growing young oaks (<80 years) that cannot be dated by conventional dendrochronology. This data gap biases research about construction activity patterns and forest history. Oxygen isotope dendrochronology can potentially date timbers from fast-growing young trees. I aim to pioneer this groundbreaking technique in the Low Countries to advance knowledge on history, archaeology, and geography for this exciting historical period.
St. Janskerk in Den BoschUnderstanding the church’s history
St. Janskerk in Den Bosch, originally built in 1240 and modified in 1350 and 1530, is a key historical site. After a fire in 1584, much of its timber was reused, but the age and origin of this wood remain unclear. This presents a challenge for understanding the church’s construction history. Traditional dendrochronology cannot date fast-growing young oaks (<80 years), which make up 70% of the timber used in such structures. By employing oxygen isotope dendrochronology, this research seeks to accurately date the timbers, providing valuable insights into medieval building practices, forest history, and resource management in the Low Countries.
Researchers
