The Church of the Saviour from Zashiversk: The Dendrochronological Aspect
The Church of the Saviour from Zashiversk: The Dendrochronological Aspect
V.S. Myglan, I.Y. Slusarenko, and A.Y. Mainicheva.
This article focuses on dating the unique monument of wooden architecture from the time of the Russian colonization of Siberia – the Church of the Saviour from the transpolar town of Zashiversk. For the fi rst time the church is studied using dendrochronological analysis. This method is based on variable annual growth of tree-rings, and provides the most objective date with an accuracy of up to a year. Exceptionally representative samples of specimens from 95 logs, belonging to different walls and different areas of timberwork in each room of the church, were used for analysis. For establishing the calendar dates, the generalized tree-ring chronologies, based on standing larch in the area adjacent to the monument were used. Based on the dates of harvesting the trees that have preserved the ring adjacent to the bark, it is possible to say that the bulk of timber was harvested in 1709–1711. The construction of the building might have taken place either at the same time or soon after 1711. It cannot be excluded that some of the logs with earlier dates initially formed a part of an earlier structure, and were later reused for building the present Church of the Saviour from Zashiversk.
