Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
At first glance, this weathered wooden water well in the Czech Republic appears unremarkable. However, tree-ring analysis has revealed that the oak used in its construction dates back approximately 7,275 years. If these findings are confirmed, the well would represent the oldest known wooden structure identified through dendrochronological dating.
Of course they could have carbon dated it as well.
I did some checking beyond where I read about this:
Dendrochronology (tree-ring dating) dated the felling of the trees to approximately 5256–5255 BCE, which is about 7,200–7,300 years ago. The results were peer-reviewed and published (notably in Journal of Archaeological Science).
Because the dating is precise to the year, it is considered the oldest precisely dated wooden structure known; however, it is not the oldest wooden structure ever, full stop. Older wooden artifacts exist (e.g., spears, tools), but not complete architectural structures dated this precisely.
The well did not survive because wood normally lasts this long. It was preserved due to waterlogged, oxygen-poor conditions, which inhibit decay.
Dale Stansbery wrote:Of course they could have carbon dated it as well.
They probably have done so. Dendrochronology only is solidly precise - down to the year even - in cases where two distinctive patterns of tree rings can be correlated. One is in the sample, and the other is in a living tree. Oldest living tree is less than 5k years, so beyond that a more interpretive correlation would be necessary - something like C14.
Dendrochronological dating is much more precise, within its limitations, than carbon dating. It is not limited by having an ancient living specimen as a requirement, several overlapping specimens can be used to extend the range of the dating.