| 1. |
- Edvardsson, Johannes, et al.
(författare)
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Old wood in a new light : an online dendrochronological database
- 2023
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Ingår i: International Journal of Wood Culture. - : Brill Academic Publishers. - 2772-3194 .- 2772-3186. ; 3:1-3, s. 442-463
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Old Wood in a New Light database project focuses on the digitization and accessibility of the results of dendrochronological samples analyzed and archived at four Swedish university-based tree-ring laboratories at Lund University, Stockholm University, University of Gothenburg, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Collaboration with the Environmental Archaeology Laboratory and Humlab at Umeå University enables long-term open access to data, raw data, and metadata. In this project, we (1) systematically undertake large-scale entry and open access publication of results from wood samples scientifically analyzed and archived by Swedish laboratories and the associated metadata, into the Strategic Environmental Archaeology Database (SEAD; www.sead.se) research data infrastructure, and (2) actively promote the database as a resource for new and ongoing interdisciplinary research initiatives. Including dendrochronological data in SEAD infrastructure allows interdisciplinary studies that combine major scientific and societal questions. Building on a pilot study of construction timber from southern Sweden and adaptation of SEAD digitization workflows, more than 70 000 samples archived at the four dendrochronological laboratories are now being handled in the project. The broad coverage of research networks, stakeholder interaction, and strategic support from the cultural heritage community is guaranteed owing to the ongoing collaboration between laboratories and an established international and multidisciplinary reference group.
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| 2. |
- Charpentier Ljungqvist, Fredrik, 1982-, et al.
(författare)
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Regional Patterns of Late Medieval and Early Modern European Building Activity Revealed by Felling Dates
- 2022
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-701X. ; 9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although variations in building activity are a useful indicator of societal well-being and demographic development, historical datasets for larger regions and longer periods are still rare. Here, we present 54,045 annually precise dendrochronological felling dates from historical construction timber from across most of Europe between 1250 and 1699 CE to infer variations in building activity. We use geostatistical techniques to compare spatiotemporal dynamics in past European building activity against independent demographic, economic, social and climatic data. We show that the felling dates capture major geographical patterns of demographic trends, especially in regions with dense data coverage. A particularly strong negative association is found between grain prices and the number of felling dates. In addition, a significant positive association is found between the number of felling dates and mining activity. These strong associations, with well-known macro-economic indicators from pre-industrial Europe, corroborate the use of felling dates as an independent source for exploring large-scale fluctuations of societal well-being and demographic development. Three prominent examples are the building boom in the Hanseatic League region of northeastern Germany during the 13th century, the onset of the Late Medieval Crisis in much of Europec. 1300, and the cessation of building activity in large parts of central Europe during armed conflicts such as the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648 CE). Despite new insights gained from our European-wide felling date inventory, further studies are needed to investigate changes in construction activity of high versus low status buildings, and of urban versus rural buildings, and to compare those results with a variety of historical documentary sources and natural proxy archives.
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| 3. |
- Edvardsson, Johannes, et al.
(författare)
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Early Holocene bark-stripping damages as an indicator of large herbivores: Evidence from a submerged Mesolithic landscape in the Haväng area, southern Baltic basin
- 2021
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Ingår i: The Holocene. - : SAGE Publications. - 0959-6836 .- 1477-0911. ; 31:11-12, s. 1670-1680
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A unique assemblage consisting of 113 pine samples collected from a submerged Mesolithic landscape in the Haväng area, southern Sweden, was examined to assess the presence of large herbivores, as well as changes in wild-game population density and composition. Bark-stripping damages on prehistoric trees is an extremely underutilized source of information about past game-population dynamics, yet our analyzes of wood samples – dated to around 10 500 cal. yr. BP – shows that such material can be successfully used to study the presence and activities of large herbivores, most likely ungulates. To evaluate our results, comparisons have been made with subfossil peatland trees that grew around 6000 years ago, as well as trees from two present day clearcut logging sites in southern Sweden. Furthermore, studies in a wild-game reserve were performed to recognize and understand different types of damages on trees caused by ungulates. Bark-stripping indicate the presence of ungulates, and the rate of damage is commonly associated with the density of the wild game. Bark-stripping was most frequently observed in the submerged wood material from the early Holocene, where damages were detected in 15% of the trees. In comparisons, 11% of the mid-Holocene trees show bark-stripping damages, whereas marks could be detected in the range between 0% and 6% of the trees from the two present-day clearcut logging sites. Our results show that tree-ring analyzes of prehistoric wood can generate information about wild-game dynamics of the past, and thereby being a valuable complement to more commonly used paleoecological and zooarcheological records.
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| 4. |
- Edvardsson, Johannes, et al.
(författare)
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Relation Between Success Rate and Sample Quantity in Dendrochronological Dating of Building Materials
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Ingår i: International Journal of Architectural Heritage. - 1558-3058.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Optimizing sample quantity and quality improves cost-effective and less invasive dendrochronological investigations. Our study examined 3,831 trees, including 2,921 pine, 404 spruce, and 506 oak trees. Pine had a 79.2% success rate for dating, spruce 46.5%, and oak 67.8%. Success rates increased with more trees analysed, notably in the case of spruce. When 1–3 spruce trees were analysed, only 44% yielded dating, while 8 or more trees achieved a 91.6% success rate. For pine, success rates ranged from 89% to 98%, and oak achieved success rates between 64% and 100%, depending on the number of trees analysed. The number of annual rings also had a significant impact. For spruce with 31–60 rings, only 33% could be dated, while pine and oak had higher dateability percentages at 60.1% and 48.6%, respectively. With 91–120 rings, dateability improved to 87.7% for pine, 75% for spruce, and 72.6% for oak. We observed temporal variations in dated material availability, likely due to shifts in building material usage over centuries. This study enhances our understanding of factors affecting sample requirements for successful dendrochronological analysis. While specific results have local relevance, the underlying principles and challenges apply globally, encouraging meaningful discussions between clients and dendrochronologists.
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| 5. |
- Groß, Daniel, et al.
(författare)
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People, lakes and seashores : Studies from the Baltic Sea basin and adjacent areas in the early and Mid-Holocene
- 2018
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Ingår i: Quaternary Science Reviews. - : Elsevier BV. - 0277-3791. ; 185, s. 27-40
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During the Early and Mid-Holocene significant changes in the ecology and socio-cultural spheres occurred around the Baltic Sea. Because of the underlying climatic changes and thus environmental alterations, the area was the scene for various cultural developments during the period under investigation. In the course of the melting of the glaciers at the end of the last Ice Age, isostatic and eustatic movements caused continual changes to the Baltic Sea basin. Changes in water level, however, affected not only the Early and Mid-Holocene coastlines, but also the whole Baltic Sea drainage system, including large lakes, rivers and watersheds in the hinterland were also dramatically impacted by these ecological changes. Prehistoric people were thus affected by changes in resource availability and reduction or enlargement of their territories, respectively. In order to evaluate the impact of changes in the water and land networks on the environment, resource availability, and human behaviour, and to reconstruct human responses to these changes, we pursue an interdisciplinary approach connecting environmental and archaeological research highlighted through different case studies.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Hansson, Anton, et al.
(författare)
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A new early Holocene shoreline displacement record for Blekinge, southern Sweden, and implications for underwater archaeology
- 2019
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Ingår i: Boreas. - : Wiley. - 1502-3885 .- 0300-9483. ; 48:1, s. 57-71
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present evidence of a submerged early Holocene landscape off the Blekinge coastline in the Baltic Sea, dating to the Yoldia Sea and Initial Littorina Sea Stages when the water level was lower than at present. 14C dated wood remains obtained by surveillance diving and new archaeological findings in combination with bathymetric analyses and interpolations between other sites across the Baltic Sea were used for refinement of the shoreline displacement history of the region. The new results reveal a Yoldia Sea lowstand level at 20 m b.s.l., a subsequent Ancylus Lake highstand at 3 m a.s.l., and then a period of relatively stable water level at about 4 m b.s.l. during the Initial Littorina Sea Stage, several metres lower than previously concluded. The refined shoreline displacement record was used for palaeo‐reconstructions of the study area during four key periods, the Yoldia Sea lowstand phase, the Ancylus Lake transgression phase, the Ancylus Lake highstand phase and the Initial Littorina Sea lowstand phase, using elevation data and map algebra functions. A flow accumulation algorithm was used for reconstruction of the now submerged prehistoric river network in order to identify areas of high archaeological potential. Our revised shoreline displacement record, and especially its lowstand period during the Initial Littorina Sea Stage around 9500–8500 cal. a BP, raises future demands not only for specific archaeological shallow‐water surveys down to 4 m b.s.l. in the area, but also for a renewed cultural heritage management strategy. The results of this study fill an important gap in the early Holocene part of the shoreline displacement history of Blekinge, contributing to its completion since the deglaciation, which is unique for the Baltic Sea.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Hansson, Anton, et al.
(författare)
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Casks from Gribshunden (1495) – Dendrochronology of Late Medieval Shipboard Victual Containers
- 2022
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Ingår i: International Journal of Nautical Archaeology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1095-9270 .- 1057-2414. ; 51:2, s. 358-375
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Wooden casks were used extensively to transport goods in medieval Europe but have beenlargely overlooked in Scandinavian marine archaeological studies. We present a study ofcasks recovered from the Danish-Norwegian royal flagship Gribshunden, which sank inthe summer of 1495 outside Stora Ekö Island in southeastern Sweden. Duringexcavations in 2020–2021, archaeologists recovered 135 wooden staves and heads fordendrochronological analysis. Seventy-nine percent of the samples were successfullydated and provenanced from seven different timber source areas, predominantlysoutheastern Baltic (59%) and Scania (22%). These results suggest the geographicalextent of the late medieval Nordic timber trade. Components from several source areaswere incorporated within individual casks, suggesting staves were bulk goodstransported to production centres for cooperage. The dating results indicate the life spanof medieval casks was just a few years. This study highlights the untapped potential ofwooden casks for a wide range of research fields.
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