Abstract
Dendroarchaeology offers precise methods to determine the construction dates of historic structures, especially when archival records are incomplete and do not include such information. In this study, we analyzed a two-level hand-hewn log cabin near Hamilton, Montana, USA situated along Gird’s Creek in the Bitterroot Valley. Historical documents suggested construction between 1860 and 1872, but the exact year remained unknown. We collected 31 increment cores from the structure and used standard dendrochronological techniques to crossdate samples against a multispecies, regional reference chronologies from Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus ponderosa. Of the 31 samples, 24 successfully dated, with six preserving bark and terminal rings, indicating precise cutting years of 1870 and 1871. These findings suggest construction began under land ownership by Jacob Sherrill, and at the same time as the acquisition of 600 inches of water rights for irrigation from the nearby Gird’s Creek. The use of P. menziesii and P. ponderosa further reflects local timber harvesting practices of the era. This study refines the homestead construction timeline and highlights the integration of dendrochronological and archival evidence in reconstructing the dynamic land-use history of the Bitterroot Valley. Our results also strengthen the case for the site’s eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places and underscore the value of tree-ring science in documenting the material legacy of early Euro-American colonization in western Montana.