Redazione Archaeogate, 30-12-2008
Pag. 5 di 16 
Dendrochronology - O. Cichocki
Dendrochonological studies were conducted in January, 2008. As excavations inside the caves were not possible this field season due to the danger of rock fall, wooden ship parts found in previous field seasons had to be measured.
Table 4 contains all samples measured to date, all of cedar wood with the numbers of rings.
These few samples were very difficult to be measured as most of them contained many extremely narrow rings. To avoid mistakes it was necessary to cut the square surface with razor blades to get a scan clear enough to measure the ring width.
The beams still in situ at the entrance to Cave 2 (T20 and T21) contained more than 300 rings. To have access to the square surface a disc was cut off of each beam, surfaces were treated very diligently, and after measurement the ends were reattached to the beam heads. This was necessary, as both beams had been heavily attacked by shipworms, which causes instability because of the many holes. Thus, it was not possible to drill cores.
T32 and T64 were dry and solid enough to try to drill cores. This is done with an electric power drill and a coring device consisting of a steel pipe with sharp ends. This pipe is drilled into the wood in a radial direction and cuts a cylindrical core, which shows the rings for measurement.
Results of this cooperation will be incorporated in project 7 of SCIEM 2000 "The Synchronization of Civilizations in the Eastern Mediterranean in the Second Millennium BC." Within this project we collect data sets to construct a standard for absolute dating reaching back from modern times back to the second millennium B.C. The data sets from Mersa/Wadi Gawasis will be important modules to reach this goal.
Pleases find attached .pdf files with the full report and the related figures
| Supportaci | La Redazione