Haneca, K.,  Boeren, I.,  Van Acker, J. & Beeckman, H. 2005. ‘Dendrochronology in suboptimal conditions: tree rings from medieval oak from Flanders (Belgium) as dating tools and archives of past forest management’. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 15(2): 137-144. DOI: 10.1007/s00334-005-0022-x.  (PR).

Article in a scientific Journal / Article in a Journal

Throughout the Middle Ages forests in Flanders (northern Belgium) experienced a dramatic human influence. Forests were logged for wood supply and converted to arable land. The structure of the remaining forests was altered. This results in conditions that are suboptimal for dendrochronological research. During six archaeological excavations in and around the medieval town of Ypres, cross-sections were collected. The tree-ring series could be dated back to the 12th-14th centuries. The growth pattern of the short sequences displays a high similarity to tree-ring series from modern coppice.