Charcoal assemblages from 101 Roman cremation graves from 12 different sites from northern Belgiu... more Charcoal assemblages from 101 Roman cremation graves from 12 different sites from northern Belgium have been identified. These have been compared with charcoal assemblages from refuse deposits, reflecting the domestic use of firewood. As no apparent differences could be found, it is concluded that firewood selection for Roman cremation rituals was based on functional and opportunistic reasons rather than ritual.
In this paper, the analyses of wood remains from weapons that were found in early medieval graves... more In this paper, the analyses of wood remains from weapons that were found in early medieval graves in Belgium are presented. In addition, a large number of wood identifications from other early medieval weaponry from northwestern Europe (Germany, France, Switzerland, and England) was collected, resulting in a dataset of more than 800 items. The analysis of this dataset shows that the selection of wood taxa for specific weapons was largely similar all over northwestern Europe during this period and this selection can be explained by the physical and technical properties of each of these wood species. For instance, common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) being the preferred wood for arrow and spear shafts and alder (Alnus sp.) for scabbards. However, some regional differences emerged from this extensive dataset, e.g., the use of holly (Ilex aquifolium) for the production of axe handles being restricted to northern Belgium and poplar/willow (Populus sp./Salix sp.) being the preferred wood for s...
The exceptional preservation of the cityscape in the medieval city of Bruges (Belgium) triggered ... more The exceptional preservation of the cityscape in the medieval city of Bruges (Belgium) triggered dendrochro-nological research on numerous preserved roof constructions in historical buildings, that date from the Middle Ages up to the early modern period. As many of these oak timbers lack the preservation of waney edge, a method was developed to combine sapwood estimates of felling dates within each building phase and to compute a summed probability distribution (SPD) for those felling dates. These summed probabilities now allow us to reconstruct temporal trends in building trade activity in an expanding medieval city. When linked to the social status of the patrons of the building projects, it is observed that resilience to demographic crisis and political turmoil differs among the social groups and political elite of a medieval society. Furthermore the dating results of decades of tree-ring research now provide a typo-chronological framework of roof constructions and shows that it took nearly two centuries before more advanced technological skill in the construction of roofs completely replaced the traditional common rafter roofs.
The study of archaeological remains of charcoal kilns is a fast growing field of research. The hi... more The study of archaeological remains of charcoal kilns is a fast growing field of research. The history and evolution of different types of (pre)historical charcoal production features is still poorly understood however. Based on a large number of radiocarbon dated charcoal kilns from Belgium and The Netherlands, covering c. 2500 years, a typology and chronology of charcoal kilns is presented. The oldest charcoal production features date to the late Iron Age, though many of these dates seem to suffer from an old-wood effect and might actually date to the Early Roman period. Both Iron Age and Roman period charcoal production is done in rectangular pit kilns. During the Early Middle Ages, there is a shift to circular pit kilns which become the dominant kiln type during the High Middle Ages. From c.1300 CE onwards, charcoal is no longer produced in pit kilns, but a new kiln type, i.e. the mound kiln is used. The size of the charcoal (pit) kilns decreases from the Roman period till c. 1300 CE when, with the use of mound kilns the volume of produced charcoal dramatically increases. These changes in kiln size most likely reflect changes in both the organisation, scale and technology of iron production in the Low Countries.
The results from analyses of botanical remains (pollen, wood, charcoal, seeds) from several archa... more The results from analyses of botanical remains (pollen, wood, charcoal, seeds) from several archaeological features excavated in Kluizen (northern Belgium) are presented. The region was largely uninhabited until the Iron Age and Roman period when a rural settlement was established, resulting in small-scale woodland clearance. The site was subsequently abandoned from c. AD 270 till the High Middle Ages. The results of the archaeological and archaeobotan-ical analyses provide information on changes in land use and resulting dynamics of woodland cover and composition between c.600 BC and AD 1200, with a spatial and temporal resolution unrivalled in northern Belgium. Especially the long period of woodland regeneration following abandonment of the site around AD 270, covering the Late Roman and Early Medieval period, could be reconstructed in detail. Abandoned fields were first covered with pioneer woodland (Salix, Corylus and Betula), then Quercus-dominated secondary forest and finally a late-successional forest with Fagus sylvatica, Carpinus betulus and Ilex aquifolium, an evolution that took over 300 years. The results also indicate that the observed increase of Fagus during the Early Middle Ages, which was never an important element in the woodland vegetation in northern Belgium before, was related to climatic changes rather than anthropogenic factors.
As part of the study of the early medieval cemetery at Broechem (Belgium), human bones from 32 cr... more As part of the study of the early medieval cemetery at Broechem (Belgium), human bones from 32 cremation graves have been dated through radiocarbon (14 C) analysis. It was noted that many of the dates were not in accordance with the chronological ranges provided by the characteristics of the cultural artifacts deposited in the graves. In fact, the human bones were "older" than the artifacts. Subsequently, a number of animal bones (in all cases from domestic pigs) was radiocarbon dated, yielding dates that were more consistent with the information from the cultural artifacts than the human bones. The dates obtained on human and pig bones from the same grave often differed around 100 radiocarbon years. This paper tries to find an explanation for the pattern observed, concentrating on two hypotheses: aquatic reservoir versus old wood effects. The evaluation takes into account additional radiocarbon dates derived from charcoal fragments of the funeral pyre, from both short-lived and long-lived taxa. A conclusive explanation for the anomalous radiocarbon dates could not be reached but clear suggestions can be put forward for future experimental work that will without doubt shed more light upon the interpretational problems raised.
WOODAN online houtdatabase maakt het mogelijk om informatie over houtvondsten gemakkelijk op te z... more WOODAN online houtdatabase maakt het mogelijk om informatie over houtvondsten gemakkelijk op te zoeken en te vergelijken. Dit vormt de basis voor synthetiserend onderzoek op het gebied van hout.
Antiquity: a review of world archaeology, Dec 2018
During the First World War (1914–1918), the construction and maintenance of the
Western Front in... more During the First World War (1914–1918), the construction and maintenance of the
Western Front in North-west Europe required huge quantities of timber. Although archaeological investigations regularly uncover wellpreserved wooden structures and objects, studies of the timber’s provenance are rare. The authors combine archival research with wood-species identification and tree-ring analysis of a large
assemblage of wooden objects excavated from former trenches on the Western Front. The results show that most objects and structures were made using fast-growing European species, with evidence for the small-scale but continuous importation of North American timber.
In this article, we provide practical and straightforward guidance for the selection and sampling... more In this article, we provide practical and straightforward guidance for the selection and sampling of shipwreck timbers for dendrochronological research. We outline sampling strategies and present informative figures that illustrate how to proceed in a variety of scenarios that archaeologists regularly encounter. However, in order to fully exploit the potential of tree-ring research on these objects, we would urge archaeologists to involve dendrochronologists during the project planning phase to carefully plan and conduct adequate sampling of shipwreck assemblages.
In this article, we provide practical and straightforward guidance for the selection and sampling... more In this article, we provide practical and straightforward guidance for the selection and sampling of shipwreck timbers for dendrochronological research. We outline sampling strategies and present informative figures that illustrate how to proceed in a variety of scenarios that archaeologists regularly encounter. However, in order to fully exploit the potential of tree-ring research on these objects, we would urge archaeologists to involve dendrochronologists during the project planning phase to carefully plan and conduct adequate sampling of shipwreck assemblages.
A dendrochronological study of the roofs of the Basilica of Our Lady in Tongeren (Belgium) showed... more A dendrochronological study of the roofs of the Basilica of Our Lady in Tongeren (Belgium) showed that the current roofs date to the period right after the deliberate burning of the church in 1677. High resolution den-drochronological dates – based on wood-anatomical observations of the outermost tree-ring – combined with detailed archival sources, allow us to trace the progress of reconstruction of the various roofs throughout the years following the fire at an intra-annual resolution. This provides an exceptionally detailed timeline of both the temporal and spatial progress of the reconstruction of the roofs of the Basilica of Our Lady. As such, this case-study can serve as a very detailed reference for the study of post-medieval roofs and the workflow during their construction.
Charcoal assemblages from 101 Roman cremation graves from 12 different sites from northern Belgiu... more Charcoal assemblages from 101 Roman cremation graves from 12 different sites from northern Belgium have been identified. These have been compared with charcoal assemblages from refuse deposits, reflecting the domestic use of firewood. As no apparent differences could be found, it is concluded that firewood selection for Roman cremation rituals was based on functional and opportunistic reasons rather than ritual.
In this paper, the analyses of wood remains from weapons that were found in early medieval graves... more In this paper, the analyses of wood remains from weapons that were found in early medieval graves in Belgium are presented. In addition, a large number of wood identifications from other early medieval weaponry from northwestern Europe (Germany, France, Switzerland, and England) was collected, resulting in a dataset of more than 800 items. The analysis of this dataset shows that the selection of wood taxa for specific weapons was largely similar all over northwestern Europe during this period and this selection can be explained by the physical and technical properties of each of these wood species. For instance, common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) being the preferred wood for arrow and spear shafts and alder (Alnus sp.) for scabbards. However, some regional differences emerged from this extensive dataset, e.g., the use of holly (Ilex aquifolium) for the production of axe handles being restricted to northern Belgium and poplar/willow (Populus sp./Salix sp.) being the preferred wood for s...
The exceptional preservation of the cityscape in the medieval city of Bruges (Belgium) triggered ... more The exceptional preservation of the cityscape in the medieval city of Bruges (Belgium) triggered dendrochro-nological research on numerous preserved roof constructions in historical buildings, that date from the Middle Ages up to the early modern period. As many of these oak timbers lack the preservation of waney edge, a method was developed to combine sapwood estimates of felling dates within each building phase and to compute a summed probability distribution (SPD) for those felling dates. These summed probabilities now allow us to reconstruct temporal trends in building trade activity in an expanding medieval city. When linked to the social status of the patrons of the building projects, it is observed that resilience to demographic crisis and political turmoil differs among the social groups and political elite of a medieval society. Furthermore the dating results of decades of tree-ring research now provide a typo-chronological framework of roof constructions and shows that it took nearly two centuries before more advanced technological skill in the construction of roofs completely replaced the traditional common rafter roofs.
The study of archaeological remains of charcoal kilns is a fast growing field of research. The hi... more The study of archaeological remains of charcoal kilns is a fast growing field of research. The history and evolution of different types of (pre)historical charcoal production features is still poorly understood however. Based on a large number of radiocarbon dated charcoal kilns from Belgium and The Netherlands, covering c. 2500 years, a typology and chronology of charcoal kilns is presented. The oldest charcoal production features date to the late Iron Age, though many of these dates seem to suffer from an old-wood effect and might actually date to the Early Roman period. Both Iron Age and Roman period charcoal production is done in rectangular pit kilns. During the Early Middle Ages, there is a shift to circular pit kilns which become the dominant kiln type during the High Middle Ages. From c.1300 CE onwards, charcoal is no longer produced in pit kilns, but a new kiln type, i.e. the mound kiln is used. The size of the charcoal (pit) kilns decreases from the Roman period till c. 1300 CE when, with the use of mound kilns the volume of produced charcoal dramatically increases. These changes in kiln size most likely reflect changes in both the organisation, scale and technology of iron production in the Low Countries.
The results from analyses of botanical remains (pollen, wood, charcoal, seeds) from several archa... more The results from analyses of botanical remains (pollen, wood, charcoal, seeds) from several archaeological features excavated in Kluizen (northern Belgium) are presented. The region was largely uninhabited until the Iron Age and Roman period when a rural settlement was established, resulting in small-scale woodland clearance. The site was subsequently abandoned from c. AD 270 till the High Middle Ages. The results of the archaeological and archaeobotan-ical analyses provide information on changes in land use and resulting dynamics of woodland cover and composition between c.600 BC and AD 1200, with a spatial and temporal resolution unrivalled in northern Belgium. Especially the long period of woodland regeneration following abandonment of the site around AD 270, covering the Late Roman and Early Medieval period, could be reconstructed in detail. Abandoned fields were first covered with pioneer woodland (Salix, Corylus and Betula), then Quercus-dominated secondary forest and finally a late-successional forest with Fagus sylvatica, Carpinus betulus and Ilex aquifolium, an evolution that took over 300 years. The results also indicate that the observed increase of Fagus during the Early Middle Ages, which was never an important element in the woodland vegetation in northern Belgium before, was related to climatic changes rather than anthropogenic factors.
As part of the study of the early medieval cemetery at Broechem (Belgium), human bones from 32 cr... more As part of the study of the early medieval cemetery at Broechem (Belgium), human bones from 32 cremation graves have been dated through radiocarbon (14 C) analysis. It was noted that many of the dates were not in accordance with the chronological ranges provided by the characteristics of the cultural artifacts deposited in the graves. In fact, the human bones were "older" than the artifacts. Subsequently, a number of animal bones (in all cases from domestic pigs) was radiocarbon dated, yielding dates that were more consistent with the information from the cultural artifacts than the human bones. The dates obtained on human and pig bones from the same grave often differed around 100 radiocarbon years. This paper tries to find an explanation for the pattern observed, concentrating on two hypotheses: aquatic reservoir versus old wood effects. The evaluation takes into account additional radiocarbon dates derived from charcoal fragments of the funeral pyre, from both short-lived and long-lived taxa. A conclusive explanation for the anomalous radiocarbon dates could not be reached but clear suggestions can be put forward for future experimental work that will without doubt shed more light upon the interpretational problems raised.
WOODAN online houtdatabase maakt het mogelijk om informatie over houtvondsten gemakkelijk op te z... more WOODAN online houtdatabase maakt het mogelijk om informatie over houtvondsten gemakkelijk op te zoeken en te vergelijken. Dit vormt de basis voor synthetiserend onderzoek op het gebied van hout.
Antiquity: a review of world archaeology, Dec 2018
During the First World War (1914–1918), the construction and maintenance of the
Western Front in... more During the First World War (1914–1918), the construction and maintenance of the
Western Front in North-west Europe required huge quantities of timber. Although archaeological investigations regularly uncover wellpreserved wooden structures and objects, studies of the timber’s provenance are rare. The authors combine archival research with wood-species identification and tree-ring analysis of a large
assemblage of wooden objects excavated from former trenches on the Western Front. The results show that most objects and structures were made using fast-growing European species, with evidence for the small-scale but continuous importation of North American timber.
In this article, we provide practical and straightforward guidance for the selection and sampling... more In this article, we provide practical and straightforward guidance for the selection and sampling of shipwreck timbers for dendrochronological research. We outline sampling strategies and present informative figures that illustrate how to proceed in a variety of scenarios that archaeologists regularly encounter. However, in order to fully exploit the potential of tree-ring research on these objects, we would urge archaeologists to involve dendrochronologists during the project planning phase to carefully plan and conduct adequate sampling of shipwreck assemblages.
In this article, we provide practical and straightforward guidance for the selection and sampling... more In this article, we provide practical and straightforward guidance for the selection and sampling of shipwreck timbers for dendrochronological research. We outline sampling strategies and present informative figures that illustrate how to proceed in a variety of scenarios that archaeologists regularly encounter. However, in order to fully exploit the potential of tree-ring research on these objects, we would urge archaeologists to involve dendrochronologists during the project planning phase to carefully plan and conduct adequate sampling of shipwreck assemblages.
A dendrochronological study of the roofs of the Basilica of Our Lady in Tongeren (Belgium) showed... more A dendrochronological study of the roofs of the Basilica of Our Lady in Tongeren (Belgium) showed that the current roofs date to the period right after the deliberate burning of the church in 1677. High resolution den-drochronological dates – based on wood-anatomical observations of the outermost tree-ring – combined with detailed archival sources, allow us to trace the progress of reconstruction of the various roofs throughout the years following the fire at an intra-annual resolution. This provides an exceptionally detailed timeline of both the temporal and spatial progress of the reconstruction of the roofs of the Basilica of Our Lady. As such, this case-study can serve as a very detailed reference for the study of post-medieval roofs and the workflow during their construction.
Due to the exceptional preservation of the historical cityscape in Bruges, numerous roof constru... more Due to the exceptional preservation of the historical cityscape in Bruges, numerous roof constructions from the Middle Ages up to the early modern period can still be found in historical buildings. In this catalogue the typology and chronometric dating of 148 roof constructions – known from literature or discovered during site inspections by Flanders Heritage Agency – are described. In 59 cases the dating of the roofs is based on a dendrochronological analysis. This catalogue not only includes the roof constructions of renowned historical buildings in Bruges (halls, churches, hospitals) but also numerous residential houses. The oldest roofs in this catalogue are common rafter roofs without longitudinal bracing, dating from the first decennia of the 13th century. It is striking to see that this type of roof was built until the 15th century. The roof of the central sick ward l of St. John’s hospital, built in 1226-1241d, is the oldest preserved rafter roof in the Low Countries with roof plates on trusses. More recent roof constructions with trusses and roof plates or purlins date from the 16th century. As such, this catalogue provides an overview of the evolution in roof building during the late Middle Ages in Bruges. The Bruges roofs are embedded in the overall evolution of roof constructions in the Low Countries, although a number of roofs proved to belong to rather rare types for which parallels can be found in Northern-France.
Dankzij de uitzonderlijk goede bewaring van het historisch stadslandschap vindt men in Brugge nog talrijke dakkappen uit de middeleeuwen en nieuwe tijd. In deze catalogus wordt de typologie en datering van in totaal 148 dakkappen - gekend uit de literatuur of ontdekt en onderzocht tijdens werfinspecties door het agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed van de Vlaamse Overheid - beschreven. De datering is in 59 gevallen gebaseerd op een dendrochronologische analyse. Deze catalogus omvat niet alleen dakkappen van beroemde historische gebouwen in Brugge (hallen, kerken, hospitalen) maar ook van talrijke woonhuizen. De oudste kappen in deze catalogus zijn sporenkappen zonder langsverbinding uit de eerste decennia van de 13de eeuw. Opvallend is dat dit type kap tot in de 15de eeuw werd opgetrokken. De kap van de centrale ziekenzaal van het Sint-Janshospitaal, opgericht in 1226-1241d, is de oudste bewaarde sporenkap met flieringen op schaargebinten in de Lage Landen. Jongere kappen met schaargebinten en flieringen of gordingen situeren zich in de 16de eeuw. Zo biedt deze catalogus een overzicht van de evolutie in kapconstructies tijdens de late middeleeuwen in Brugge. De Brugse kappen schrijven zich in in de globale evolutie van dakkappen in de Lage Landen, al zijn er ook kappen aangetroffen die behoren tot eerder zeldzame types waarvoor parallellen ook in Noord-Frankrijk moeten worden gezocht.
Grace à la conservation exceptionnelle du paysage bâti du centre historique, on retrouve à Bruges des nombreuses charpentes datant du Moyen Âge et du début de l’époque moderne. Ce catalogue décrit la typologie et la datation de 148 charpentes, connues par la littérature ou découvertes lors de visites par l’Agence du Patrimoine de Flandre. Dans 59 des cas, la datation se fonde sur une analyse dendrochronologique. Ce catalogue n’inclut pas seulement les charpentes de bâtiments historiques renommés (halles, églises, hôpitaux), mais contient aussi celles de nombreuses maisons privées. Les plus anciens toits décrits ici sont les charpentes à chevrons formant fermes sans contreventement longitudinal, datant des premières décennies du 13ème siècle. À Bruges, ce type de construction est en usage jusqu’au 15ème siècle. La charpente de la salle centrale de l’hôpital Saint-Jean, érigée en 1226-1241, est constituée de sablières soutenues par des portiques surélevés, c’est la plus ancienne charpente de ce type connue dans les anciens Pays-Bas. Des charpentes plus récentes à portiques et sablières ou pannes datent du 16ème siècle. Ce catalogue offre donc une vue d’ensemble de l’évolution de la charpenterie à Bruges au Moyen Âge central et tardif. Les toits brugeois s’inscrivent dans l’évolution générale des charpentes dans les anciens Pays-Bas, bien qu’un certain nombre est d’une typologie assez rare pour lesquelles des parallèles doivent être recherchés dans le nord de la France.
Het is de eerste vraag bij archeologisch onderzoek: uit welke periode komen de vondsten? Waar zit... more Het is de eerste vraag bij archeologisch onderzoek: uit welke periode komen de vondsten? Waar zitten we, op de tijdslijn van het verre of nabije verleden? De kenmerken van stenen werktuigen, metalen sierraden of scherven van aardewerk geven vaak een eerste, goed idee maar soms is dat niet mogelijk of is de inschatting niet precies genoeg. Gelukkig biedt het natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek dan vaak een uitkomst, door het dateren van organische vondsten zoals dierenbot, houtskool of plantenzaden. Alles wat uit koolstof bestaat kan immers via een ingenieuze methode op zijn juiste chronologische plaats worden gezet. Het meten van het gehalte aan de radioactieve vorm van koolstof is daarbij de sleutel tot het dateringssucces. Een zorgvuldige aanpak is echter wel geboden. De beste resultaten worden geboekt wanneer de juiste stalen worden genomen, uit de meest geschikte archeologische contexten. Bovendien moeten de meetresultaten met deskundigheid worden bewerkt en geïnterpreteerd. De veel gebruikte Oxcal-software biedt daarbij een waaier aan mogelijkheden maar vormt voor de beginnende gebruiker een uitdaging. Een handleiding rond radiokoolstofdatering - en een toegankelijke introductie tot OxCal om de bekomen dateringen verder te interpreteren - was dus nog een manco binnen de Vlaamse archeologie. Daaraan is nu verholpen met de publicatie van ‘14C: dateren met radiokoolstof’, vrij af te halen op ons Open Archief van Onroerend Erfgoedpublicaties (https://oar.onroerenderfgoed.be/item/5241).
Trial trenching is the survey method of choice in many areas in Europe, being capable of covering... more Trial trenching is the survey method of choice in many areas in Europe, being capable of covering substantial areas while only sampling between 5 and 10% of the surface. However, previous research (Hey and Lacey 2001; Verhagen and Borsboom 2009) has also shown that the detection and interpretation of features uncovered by trial trenching may be seriously influenced by the survey strategy chosen. In particular trench length, width, spacing and configuration determine the results of the survey. While the effects of manipulating these parameters are quite well understood in statistical terms, empirical data to quantify the risks of under- or overestimation of feature densities has largely been lacking so far.
Flanders Heritage Agency therefore has carried out simulations of various trial trenching strategies on excavated site plans from Flanders in order to better understand these effects. The results of this study clearly indicate that low area coverage results in a higher risk of feature densities being wrongly estimated, and thus confirm earlier research results based on statistical modelling. Secondly, the simulations underline the large inherent variation in the possible results of trial trenching campaigns.
The method employed can easily be transferred to other site types and survey methods to estimate the risk of survey results deviating from the actual feature density. It is therefore a useful tool to find the balance between the research effort applied and the reliability of survey results.
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Papers by Kristof Haneca
Western Front in North-west Europe required huge quantities of timber. Although archaeological investigations regularly uncover wellpreserved wooden structures and objects, studies of the timber’s provenance are rare. The authors combine archival research with wood-species identification and tree-ring analysis of a large
assemblage of wooden objects excavated from former trenches on the Western Front. The results show that most objects and structures were made using fast-growing European species, with evidence for the small-scale but continuous importation of North American timber.
Western Front in North-west Europe required huge quantities of timber. Although archaeological investigations regularly uncover wellpreserved wooden structures and objects, studies of the timber’s provenance are rare. The authors combine archival research with wood-species identification and tree-ring analysis of a large
assemblage of wooden objects excavated from former trenches on the Western Front. The results show that most objects and structures were made using fast-growing European species, with evidence for the small-scale but continuous importation of North American timber.
This catalogue not only includes the roof constructions of renowned historical buildings in Bruges (halls, churches, hospitals) but also numerous residential houses. The oldest roofs in this catalogue are common rafter roofs without longitudinal bracing, dating from the first decennia of the 13th century. It is striking to see that this type of roof was built until the 15th century. The roof of the central sick ward l of St. John’s hospital, built in 1226-1241d, is the oldest preserved rafter roof in the Low Countries with roof plates on trusses. More recent roof constructions with trusses and roof plates or purlins date from the 16th century. As such, this catalogue provides an overview of the evolution in roof building during the late Middle Ages in Bruges. The Bruges roofs are embedded in the overall evolution of roof constructions in the Low Countries, although a number of roofs proved to belong to rather rare types for which parallels can be found in Northern-France.
Dankzij de uitzonderlijk goede bewaring van het historisch stadslandschap vindt men in Brugge nog talrijke dakkappen uit de middeleeuwen en nieuwe tijd. In deze catalogus wordt de typologie en datering van in totaal 148 dakkappen - gekend uit de literatuur of ontdekt en onderzocht tijdens werfinspecties door het agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed van de Vlaamse Overheid - beschreven. De datering is in 59 gevallen gebaseerd op een dendrochronologische analyse.
Deze catalogus omvat niet alleen dakkappen van beroemde historische gebouwen in Brugge (hallen, kerken, hospitalen) maar ook van talrijke woonhuizen. De oudste kappen in deze catalogus zijn sporenkappen zonder langsverbinding uit de eerste decennia van de 13de eeuw. Opvallend is dat dit type kap tot in de 15de eeuw werd opgetrokken. De kap van de centrale ziekenzaal van het Sint-Janshospitaal, opgericht in 1226-1241d, is de oudste bewaarde sporenkap met flieringen op schaargebinten in de Lage Landen. Jongere kappen met schaargebinten en flieringen of gordingen situeren zich in de 16de eeuw. Zo biedt deze catalogus een overzicht van de evolutie in kapconstructies tijdens de late middeleeuwen in Brugge. De Brugse kappen schrijven zich in in de globale evolutie van dakkappen in de Lage Landen, al zijn er ook kappen aangetroffen die behoren tot eerder zeldzame types waarvoor parallellen ook in Noord-Frankrijk moeten worden gezocht.
Grace à la conservation exceptionnelle du paysage bâti du centre historique, on retrouve à Bruges des nombreuses charpentes datant du Moyen Âge et du début de l’époque moderne. Ce catalogue décrit la typologie et la datation de 148 charpentes, connues par la littérature ou découvertes lors de visites par l’Agence du Patrimoine de Flandre. Dans 59 des cas, la datation se fonde sur une analyse dendrochronologique.
Ce catalogue n’inclut pas seulement les charpentes de bâtiments historiques renommés (halles, églises, hôpitaux), mais contient aussi celles de nombreuses maisons privées. Les plus anciens toits décrits ici sont les charpentes à chevrons formant fermes sans contreventement longitudinal, datant des premières décennies du 13ème siècle. À Bruges, ce type de construction est en usage jusqu’au 15ème siècle. La charpente de la salle centrale de l’hôpital Saint-Jean, érigée en 1226-1241, est constituée de sablières soutenues par des portiques surélevés, c’est la plus ancienne charpente de ce type connue dans les anciens Pays-Bas. Des charpentes plus récentes à portiques et sablières ou pannes datent du 16ème siècle. Ce catalogue offre donc une vue d’ensemble de l’évolution de la charpenterie à Bruges au Moyen Âge central et tardif. Les toits brugeois s’inscrivent dans l’évolution générale des charpentes dans les anciens Pays-Bas, bien qu’un certain nombre est d’une typologie assez rare pour lesquelles des parallèles doivent être recherchés dans le nord de la France.
Flanders Heritage Agency therefore has carried out simulations of various trial trenching strategies on excavated site plans from Flanders in order to better understand these effects. The results of this study clearly indicate that low area coverage results in a higher risk of feature densities being wrongly estimated, and thus confirm earlier research results based on statistical modelling. Secondly, the simulations underline the large inherent variation in the possible results of trial trenching campaigns.
The method employed can easily be transferred to other site types and survey methods to estimate the risk of survey results deviating from the actual feature density. It is therefore a useful tool to find the balance between the research effort applied and the reliability of survey results.