Archaeological excavations have revealed an important heritage of natural or worked waterlogged wooden objects: foundation piles, well casings, bank containment, sheet piles, boats, barrels and domestic objects.
I examine these assemblages to characterise the timber and the technical or chronological information it retains, in coordination with the archaeological team.
When to contact me
- To identify species within an archaeological assemblage
- To look for dating evidence in preserved timber
- To document dimensions, conversion, shaping and surviving working marks
- To compare timber choices according to the function of individual pieces
- To integrate wood study into an excavation or research protocol
Feasibility and limits
The study requires organised access to the preserved material and coordination with the team responsible for its inventory, sampling and conservation. The choice of pieces to examine or sample depends on the research question, the condition of the assemblage and its representativeness.
Not every piece will necessarily provide a date or precise provenance. Conclusions must be related to the material actually examined and the quality of the available data.
Reporting
The reporting format and expected level of detail are agreed during scoping. Findings distinguish observations from their interpretation and state the limits associated with sampling or preservation.