Austrian Logging: A Historical Account of the Time of Felling and Debarking, and Transportation Practices

Abstract Wood in Austria has been an indispensable source of energy, but also, a crucial building material. In the field dendroarchaeology timeline between raw material harvest and finalisation wooden construction is piece puzzle understanding history. This paper aims to provide overview on historical timber supply by examining felling debarking methods, as recorded old literature and, from visible evidence beams constructions. Historically, depending size location building, small or extended chain was required. These generally consisted logs travelling via streams rivers, possibly beforehand passing through sluices log slides, being skidded horses oxen, moved manpower sleighs, simply forest floor. The seasonal working steps logging process included felling, debranching, debarking, cutting length, start transportation process. Debarking specific focus this investigation, appearance bast (the inner bark trees which ropes were made) even residues waney edge (outermost growth ring underneath bark), may clue time year. indications season have noticed during dendrochronological sampling buildings. Improved knowledge them contribute future research these