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Baulk,
A strip of earth left standing between different parts of an excavation so that the
vertical sections can be studied and for ease of access.
Crop marks
Archaeological features may be traced by differences in the growth and
colour of a crop; shown up clearly by aerial photographs: e.g. buried ditches and pits,
with deeper soil and extra moisture help the crop to grow taller and greener; with shallow
soil above a wall the crop is stunted. A dry summer usually reveals these differences more
clearly.
Dendrochronology
The dating of wood by tree rings which vary in thickness season by
sea~on. The longest series was obtained from Californian trees going back 9,000 years.
This method used in Britain to date timbers, mostly oak, in Roman and mediaeval
structures.
Hedge -dating
The study of hedges dateable from documents has suggested that the age
of a hedge may be estimated from the average number of tree and bush species in 30 yard
lengths; e.g. a hedge dated as' 600 years old should contain six species. For several
reasons, this is not a foolproof system and must be approached with care
Magnetic dating
A -method of dating for clays in hearths and kilns. The intensity and
direction of the earth's magnetic field over 2,000 years have been measured. Fired clay
objects preserve a record of the magnetic field at the time' of cooling and may be matched
with a dated series.
Pits
Former rubbish pits supply 'useful information, as they contain plant
remains, food remains and various objects which help to date the occupation of a site. As
in most archaeology, artefacts are not sought for themselves but as dating evidence and as
pointers to social conditions.,
© Alcester & District Local History Society 1991