The first results of Dendro-dating work on historical oak timbers in Latvia

The article considers the international significance of research into the pattern of ring-width variation of preserved historical oak building timbers in the Baltic region and presents the first results obtained in Latvia in compiling long absolute oak tree-ring chronologies. Long chronologies compiled from local oak ring-width data can be used not only for more secure dendrochronological dating of other items made from oak but also for determining the source area of oak transported over long distances. Such information is important for studying the history of wood export. In recent years, the first local time series and chronologies have been compiled from mean ring-width indices of oak at the Dendrochonological Laboratory, Institute of Latvian History, University of Latvia. These relate to the overall time interval AD 919-1731 AD. It is planned that these will gradually be augmented in the future, making possible the identification of wood from oak formerly growing in present-day Latvia.