Forensic Dendroarchaeology and the StrangeCase of Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log CabinForensic Dendroarchaeology and the StrangeCase of Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin
Henri D. Grissino-MayerLaboratory of Tree-Ring ScienceDepartment of GeographyUniversity of TennesseeKnoxville, Tennessee 37996Henri D. Grissino-MayerLaboratory of Tree-Ring ScienceDepartment of GeographyUniversity of TennesseeKnoxville, Tennessee 37996
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Dwight T. PitcaithleyChief HistorianNational Park Service1849 C Street NWWashington, D.C. 20240Dwight T. PitcaithleyChief HistorianNational Park Service1849 C Street NWWashington, D.C. 20240
What is Forensic Dendroarchaeology?What is Forensic Dendroarchaeology?
Dendrochronology:Dating something using tree rings.Dendrochronology:Dating something using tree rings.
Dendroarchaeology:Dating a crafted or assimilated object using tree rings to help inferpast human behavior, activities, patterns, and lifeways.Dendroarchaeology:Dating a crafted or assimilated object using tree rings to help inferpast human behavior, activities, patterns, and lifeways.
Forensic Dendroarchaeology:Verification or rejection of a generally-accepted date for a craftedobject using tree rings to help establish authenticity and provenance.Forensic Dendroarchaeology:Verification or rejection of a generally-accepted date for a craftedobject using tree rings to help establish authenticity and provenance.
Background to Forensic DendroarchaeologyBackground to Forensic Dendroarchaeology
Douglass, A.E. 1929. The secret of the Southwest solved by talkativetree rings. National Geographic Magazine 56(6): 736–770.Douglass, A.E. 1929. The secret of the Southwest solved by talkativetree rings. National Geographic Magazine 56(6): 736–770.
Swaggerty Blockhouse (1787)Swaggerty Blockhouse (1787)
Swaggerty Blockhouse (1787)Swaggerty Blockhouse (1787)
= Stephens Hog Barn (1860) = Stephens Hog Barn (1860)
18601860
Messiah Violin (1716) Messiah Violin (1716)
= Messiah Violin (1716)= Messiah Violin (1716)
MessiahMessiah
Karr-Koussevitzky Double Bass (1611)Karr-Koussevitzky Double Bass (1611)
Karr-Koussevitzky Double Bass (1611)Karr-Koussevitzky Double Bass (1611)
r = 0.43, n = 317, t = 8.5,p < 0.0001r = 0.43, n = 317, t = 8.5, p < 0.0001
The Karr-Koussevitzky Bass dates from 1445 to 1761.The Karr-Koussevitzky Bass dates from 1445 to 1761.
= 1761+= 1761+
BassBass
ReferenceReference
Rocky Mount Historic Site (1770–1772)Rocky Mount Historic Site (1770–1772)
•One of the earliest settlers•One of the earliest settlers
•Earliest intact structure (1770)•Earliest intact structure (1770)
•Revolutionary War significance•Revolutionary War significance
•Capital from 1790–1792•Capital from 1790–1792
•Regional landmark (post office)•Regional landmark (post office)
Rocky Mount Historic Site (1770–1772)Rocky Mount Historic Site (1770–1772)
r = 0.46, n = 131, t = 5.9,p < 0.0001r = 0.46, n = 131, t = 5.9, p < 0.0001
The Rocky Mount site was built from 1827 to 1830.The Rocky Mount site was built from 1827 to 1830.
= 1827–1830= 1827–1830
Rocky MountRocky Mount
ReferenceReference
Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)
Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)
Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)
Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)
•Dendrochronological dating•Dendrochronological dating vs. Mammoth Cave
•Round logs, hewn logs, sawn log ends•Round logs, hewn logs, sawn log ends
•Counted rings at each end of log•Counted rings at each end of log
•Comparison with other log structures•Comparison with other log structures
Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)
Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)
Lincoln’s Boyhood HomeLincoln’s Boyhood Home
Lincoln’s BirthplaceLincoln’s Birthplace
Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)
Log CabinLog Cabin
ReferenceReference
r = 0.55, n = 79, t = 5.8,p < 0.0001r = 0.55, n = 79, t = 5.8, p < 0.0001
Logs in the Lincoln cabin date to the 1840s and 1850s.Logs in the Lincoln cabin date to the 1840s and 1850s.
Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)
Lincoln Log CabinAverage number of rings per log:39 (range 20 to 65, n = 42)Lincoln Log CabinAverage number of rings per log:39 (range 20 to 65, n = 42)
Lincoln Cabin at Knob CreekAverage number of rings per log:130 (range 85 to 161, n = 18)Lincoln Cabin at Knob CreekAverage number of rings per log:130 (range 85 to 161, n = 18)
Rocky Mount, TennesseeAverage number of rings per log:95 (range 68 to 162, n = 25)Rocky Mount, TennesseeAverage number of rings per log:95 (range 68 to 162, n = 25)
Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (1809)
Lincoln Log Cabin10 round logs,32 hewn logs;31 logs with sawn ends,10 logs with unsawn endsLincoln Log Cabin10 round logs,32 hewn logs;31 logs with sawn ends,10 logs with unsawn ends
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Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (≠1809)Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (≠1809)
Lincoln Log CabinLincoln Log Cabin
“The Lincoln cabin may have beenless crude and of better quality thanthe cabins built by [ThomasLincoln’s] neighbors.”– C.A. Weslager, The Log Cabin inAmerica, Rutgers University Press“The Lincoln cabin may have beenless crude and of better quality thanthe cabins built by [ThomasLincoln’s] neighbors.”– C.A. Weslager, The Log Cabin inAmerica, Rutgers University Press
The Lincolns came fromPennsylvania where immigrantsettlers were very knowledgeableabout European-style log houseconstruction.The Lincolns came fromPennsylvania where immigrantsettlers were very knowledgeableabout European-style log houseconstruction.
Thomas Lincoln was a carpenter andskilled woodworker, who neverwould have made such a crudelyconstructed cabin.Thomas Lincoln was a carpenter andskilled woodworker, who neverwould have made such a crudelyconstructed cabin.
Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (≠1809)Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Log Cabin (≠1809)
AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements
Beth AtchleySaskia van de GevelAshley HeatonWhitney KocisEvan LarsonDaniel LewisDavid MannAlison MillerDana MillerDanica PrazaChris UnderwoodGeorgina WightBeth AtchleySaskia van de GevelAshley HeatonWhitney KocisEvan LarsonDaniel LewisDavid MannAlison MillerDana MillerDanica PrazaChris UnderwoodGeorgina Wight
Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Historic SiteNational Park ServiceNational Science FoundationDr. Frank Tainter, Clemson UniversityRocky Mount Historical AssociationTennessee Historical CommissionThomas Jefferson’s Poplar ForestViolin Society of AmericaInternational Society of BassistsMuseum of AppalachiaAbraham Lincoln’s Birthplace Historic SiteNational Park ServiceNational Science FoundationDr. Frank Tainter, Clemson UniversityRocky Mount Historical AssociationTennessee Historical CommissionThomas Jefferson’s Poplar ForestViolin Society of AmericaInternational Society of BassistsMuseum of Appalachia
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