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The following paper presents an environmental examination and the results of the selected analyses of archaeological waterlogged oak wood (Quercus sp.) obtained from excavations carried out at the early medieval site of Czermno in eastern Poland near the Ukrainian border. Due to the good state of preservation of the wood tissue (De Jong's classification class III - maximum moisture content Umax < 185%) and its deposition in near anaerobic layers (reed peat and calcareous gyttja) an attempt was made to obtain the DNA sequence from samples acquired from the uncovered historical construction. In the course of the research, a DNA sequence was obtained from one sample derived from the trial pit W4/2014, the radiocarbon dated to 776-982 calAD. A comparison of the DNA data extracted from the historical wood to two sequences obtained from the trees (Quercus robur L.) growing near the site of Czermno, indicates clear similarities between each of them. The DNA sequence obtained from the archaeological oak wood confirms the assumption that proximate anaerobic layers, under specific conditions, can inhibit the degradation of DNA structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of six metals: chromium, manganese, iron, nickel, copper and zinc (possible inhibitors of enzymatic hydrolysis of wood) in samples of two poplar species, Populus trichocarpa and Populus maximowiczii, was performed in order to check which of them collect more of the metallic inhibitors during tree growth and steam explosion pretreatment. The XRF point scan (for solid and ashed wood) and mapping (for stem cross-sections) options were used. Samples of the different parts - stem, branches, leaves and bark were studied. Steam explosion at 130°C, 160°C and 190°C was performed on both species and the influence of steam on the chosen metals content was analysed. On the basis of the results, P. trichocarpa is the species which accumulates a higher amount of the metals during tree growth and P. maximowiczii - during steam explosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of a test on the resistance of Neolithic waterlogged beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) to destruction by subterranean Reticulitermes lucifugus Rossi. Methodology consistent with the ASTM D 3345-08 Standard was applied in the experiment. In the coercion test, the modern beech wood was destroyed at an intermediate stage between light attack and moderate attack with penetration, whereas the pine sapwood was heavily damaged. Under the same conditions, the waterlogged beech wood was seriously damaged or completely destroyed by the termites. However, unlike the modern pine and beech wood, all the termites died after feeding on the waterlogged beech wood. In spite of the complete destruction of the waterlogged beech wood in the coercion test, it seems that under natural conditions where there is a possible choice between different wood species, the infestation by termites of waterlogged wood uncovered in archaeological work does not necessarily happen. Wood containing few nutritional substances and substantial lignin, as well as having a high moisture content facilitating the development of parasitic microorganisms, will deter termites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]