The History of an Alpine Manor House Revealed by Dendrochronology

The Migazzi palace in Cogolo (Val di Pejo, Trentino, Italy), an important alpine noble residence of medieval origin, was analysed through dendrochronology. The floor and ceiling beams, cladding boards, door lintels, loose timber, and anything that could be dendrochronologically dated were examined. For each room, at least one sample containing the “waney edge” (the last ring before the bark) was found, allowing for precise dating of the different building phases. The results completely changed our knowledge of the palace’s history. Initially thought to date back to the 15th century, the tower around which the successive structures were built was dated to the first half of the 14th century (1332). In the space between the floor and the ceiling below, materials used as filler were found, including wooden elements and parts of footwear. The sole of one shoe was dated to 1501, which frames the cultural context of Lombard influence in which the palace flourished. This work has accurately reconstructed the history of the building, demonstrating the potential offered by intensive and widespread dendrochronological sampling.