Course Aims
This course will provide an introduction to dendrochronology in maritime archaeology. Through a balance of short lectures, demonstrations, practical hands-on sessions and underwater practicals, participants will gain an understanding of the role of dendrochronology within the discipline. Participants will learn the skills required to take effective samples that will be suitable for scientific testing.
The course is aimed at individuals undertaking the NAS Education Programme, as well as professional archaeologists wanting to increase their knowledge of the role of dendrochronology and dendroprovenancing in archaeology with a particular emphasis on maritime and nautical archaeology.
WHO'S THE TUTOR
Nigel Nayling has worked as an archaeologist and dendrochronologist for thirty years and is the foremost expert in tree-ring dating. He is a Professor at Lampeter University and widely sought-after consultant in dendrochronology.
WHO'S IT FOR?
This course is for anyone involved in the NAS Education Programme and particularly for professional or avocational archaeologists who want to learn how to take effective dendrochronology samples on their sites.
NAS members will earn 5 credits per day towards their Certificate or Award.
PARTICIPANTS WILL COMPLY WITH OUR COVID POLICY WHICH CAN BE READ HERE.
Timetable provisional and subject to change
Wednesday 20 July
09.00 Arrive and complete Covid tests if necessary
09.30 Welcome and introduction to course
09:45 What is dendrochronology and how is it used in maritime archaeology? (presentation)
10.30 Interpreting data and identifying dates (presentation)
11.00 Tea break
11.15 Assessing a site for dendrochronology potential (presentation)
11:45 Sampling strategies and techniques (presentation)
12.15 Sampling strategies and techniques (dry practical)
13:00 Dive briefing
13.15 lunch and dive preparation
13.45 Locating sampling sites on Gresham wreck and sketching them (wet practical)
15.00 Dendrochronology in maritime archaeology - case studies (presentation)
15.45 tea break
16.00 Handling dendrochronology samples (dry practical)
17.00 Day finish
Thursday 21 July
09.00 Arrive and complete Covid tests if necessary
09.30 Building dendrochronology into your project objectives (presentation)
10.00 Gresham wreck – the work done so far (presentation)
10.45 tea break
11.00 Methods of measurement and analysis (dry practical)
12.15 Dive briefing
12.30 Lunch
13.00 Identifying sampling sites on the Gresham wreck (wet practical)
15.00 Timber identification and selection from a range of archaeological sites (dry practical)
16.00 Effective methods for labelling, packaging and recording samples (dry practical)
16.30 Getting involved with NAS
17.00 Course End