The Guildhall, Register Square, Beverley, East Yorkshire. Tree-Ring and Radiocarbon Analysis of Oak Timbers

Arnold, A., Howard, R., Tyers, C., Ramsey, C. B., Dunbar, E. and Marshall, P. (2020) The Guildhall, Register Square, Beverley, East Yorkshire. Tree-Ring and Radiocarbon Analysis of Oak Timbers. Technical Report. Historic England.

Abstract

Tree-ring analysis of samples taken from The Guildhall resulted in the construction of four site sequences: BEVJSQ01, a site sequence of 197 rings containing four samples, BEVJSQ02, an 82-ring site sequence also containing four samples, and BEVJSQ03 and BEVJSQ04, site sequences of 84 rings and 63 rings respectively each of which contained two samples. None of these, or any of the ungrouped individual series, could be securely dated using tree-ring analysis. Tree-ring analysis did, however, identify that BEVJSQ01 cross-matched with an undated site master chronology from 15 Flemingate, BEVGSQ02, producing a combined sequence, BEVGJSQ01, of 197 rings. Two dendrochronological samples, one from BEVJSQ01 and one from BEVGSQ01, were sub-sampled for radiocarbon dating. The combined sequence, BEVGJSQ01, was subsequently dated by a combination of dendrochronology and radiocarbon analysis to the period AD 1245–1441DR, with BEVJSQ01 being dated to AD 1245–1441DR. The four dated timbers, three of which showed clear signs of reuse, are broadly contemporary. The two from the roof over the Magistrates’ room were both probably felled in, or around, AD 1441DR. One of those from the Courtroom roof was also probably felled in, or around, AD 1441DR, whilst the other was felled slightly earlier in the range AD 1402–27DR.

• Item Type: Research Reports or Papers (Technical Report)
• Additional Information: Report Number: 84/2019
• Keywords: Dendrochronology, Radiocarbon Dating, Standing Building, Wiggle-Match
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Dunbar, Dr Elaine
• Authors: Arnold, A., Howard, R., Tyers, C., Ramsey, C. B., Dunbar, E., and Marshall, P.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Publisher: Historic England