Cincér Bt.

Dendrochronological research in Transylvania

Initializing of dendrochronological research In Transylvania on the basis of recent material, with regard on the archaeological, architectural and arthistorical points of view.

The dendrochronological research supports all over Europe the research of arhcaeologists and art historians due to the very precise, in some cases year-accurat dating. The purpose of our project is to initialize the dendrochronological research in Transylvania, based on the personal contacts and the experiences of the last 15 years in Hungary. To do this, we start collecting data systematically from standing monuments as well as the analysis of archaeological finds, according to the possibilities. Parallel to this we wish to sketch the over-all dendrochronological map and the regularities (species-spectrum, sapwood-thickness, zones) of the Transylvanian region on the basis of collecting and analyzing recent data. As the precondition of the work we shall install a convenient aquipment, a sort of mobil laboratory which will allow the researchers to collect data on the field as well as to produce sufficient documentation.

The steps of research (2003-2006):
1, by acquiring the needed equipment to found the basis of an independent dendrochronological laboratory in Transylvania
2, collecting of recent material of the whole territory of Transylvania
3, sketching the spectrum of species important in the historical dendrochronological research of Transylvania
4, analysis of the characteristics of these species (e.g. sapwood-thickness at oaks)
5, mapping of the zones of the different species on the basis of recent material
6, making of chronologies for the Basin of Csík and the Székelyföld (Eastern Transylvania), used in historical and art historical works
7, starting the collection of material for the chronologies of other Transylvanian regions
8, making a part of these chronologies, depending on the results

The team:
András Grynaeus PhD (Budapest, archaeologyst, dendrochronologyst)
Boglárka Tóth (Csíkszereda - Miercurea-Ciuc, Romania, archaeologyst)
István Botár (Csíkszereda - Miercurea-Ciuc, Romania, archaeologyst)