Dendrochronological Analysis of Rural Plains, Mechanicsville, Hanover County, Virginia
Cook ER, Callahan WJ, Wells C. 2007. Dendrochronological Analysis of Rural Plains, Mechanicsville, Hanover County, Virginia. National Park Service
This is the final report on the dendrochronological analysis of the historic Shelton House (also known as "Rural Plains"), located at 7273 Studley Road Mechanicsville, Hanover County, Virginia. This house is owned and managed by Richmond National Battlefield Park, a unit of the National Park Service (NPS). In an effort to confirm the construction history of this building, architectural historical Dr. Camille Wells, acting on behalf of the NPS, requested that dendrochronologists William Callahan and Dr. Edward Cood perform a tree-ring analysis of its structural timbers. Twelve (12) wood ore samples were collected and analyzed; all were of pine (Pinus sp.). From the datings that were achieved, there emerged strong evidence of at least one intrinsic construction period for Rural Plains. The absolutely dated, bark-edged samples indicate a primary construction phase for the house sometime after the end of the growth season 1723; two other bark-edged samples were absolutely dated to 1725. In conjunction, these results indicate that Rural Plains was probably built during 1724-26.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- Cook, Edward; Callahan, William; Wells, Camille
- Date of Issue
- 2007-01
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- RICH
- Keywords
- dendrochronology, Hanover County, Mechanicsville, Richmond, Richmond National Battlefield Park, Rural Plains, Shelton, Shelton House, tree rings, tree-ring dating, Virginia
- License
- Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal