Species Identification and Tree-Ring Dating of the Wooden Elements Used in Juheulgwan of Joryeong (Gate No.1), Mungyeong, Korea

Abstract

This study’s objective was to conduct species identification and tree-ring dating of wooden elements used in Mungyeong Juheulgwan of Joryeong (Gate No. 1). Of the 84 wooden elements evaluated, 76 were confirmed to be hard pines, 5 were soft pines, and 3 belonged to Abies spp. For tree-ring dating, cores of the wooden elements were collected using a drill, and ring-width plots of individual samples were constructed using the TSAP software. The results of performing tree-ring dating for the outermost ring of 59 hard pine wooden elements revealed the following 4 felling dates: summer of 1708–late fall of 1709, summer of 1792–early spring of 1794, late fall of 1838–early spring of 1840 and 1867, and early spring–fall of 1872. These felling dates were found to be consistent with those in the construction and repair records of the Annals of Joseon Dynasty, Juhulgwan Jungsugi, and those engraved on Juhulgwan Walls. It is believed that some of the wooden materials harvested at that time were stored and used since there was a difference of approximately10 years between the repair records and felling dates.