• Introduction
  • Softwoods
    • Eastern Red Cedar
    • Eastern White Pine
    • Bald Cypress
    • Eastern Hemlock
    • Spruce
  • Hardwoods
    • Ring Porous Hardwoods
      • Chestnut
      • Elm
      • Fox Grape
      • Hickory
      • Hackberry
      • Black Locust
      • The Oaks
      • American Ash
      • Hercules Club
      • Mulberry
      • Paw Paw
      • Redbud
      • Sassafras
      • Sumacs
      • Trumpet Vine
    • Diffuse Porous Hardwoods
      • American Beech
      • Cherry
      • Cottonwood
      • Holly
      • Maple
      • Red Gum
      • Tulip Poplar
      • Black Willow
      • Sycamore
      • Birch
    • Semi-ring Porous Hardwoods
      • Black Walnut
      • Common Persimmon
  • Key to Softwoods
  • Key to Hardwoods
  • JPPM Home


Wood and Charcoal
Identification

Introduction

Creating a Southern  Maryland Type Collection

Wood and Charcoal Anatomy Basics

Key to Softwoods

Key to Hardwoods

Softwoods

Eastern Red Cedar

Eastern White Pine

Bald Cypress

Eastern Hemlock

Spruce

Hardwoods -
Ring Porous Hardwoods

Chestnut

Elm

Fox Grape

Hickory

Hackberry

Black Locust

The Oaks

American Ash

Hercules Club

Mulberry

Pawpaw

Redbud

Sassafras

Sumacs

Trumpet Vine


Diffuse Porous Hardwoods

American Beech

Cherry

Cottonwood

Holly

Maple

Red Gum

Tulip Poplar

Black Willow

Sycamore

Birch


Semi-ring Porous Hardwoods

Black Walnut

Common Persimmon

    Wood & Charcoal Identification in Southern Maryland
    By Harry Alden

Sycamore

Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis /Platanaceae). The genus Platanus, also known as buttonwood or plane tree, is composed of about 8 species native to Eastern Europe, western Asia and North America. All species are identical at the cellular level. The British term “sycamore” refers to a species in the hard maple group (Acer pseudoplatanus), and plane tree is used for Platanus that grows there. Platanus occidentalis grows naturally in entire the eastern United States, usually in wet areas near rivers or streams. Platanus trees reach heights of 120 ft with diameters of over 3 ft. Platanus sapwood light tan to light yellow, with dark brown heartwood. The wood is classified as moderate in most physical and mechanical properties. It is similar to Willow in most properties and applications. It is used for boxes, containers, flooring, furniture (especially drawer sides), millwork, pallets, paper, particleboard, plywood, pulp wood, and veneer.

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/TechSheets/HardwoodNA/pdf_files/plataneng.pdf.

Characteristics found in the Sycamore (Platanus spp.):

  • Diffuse Porous
  • Simple perforations
  • I/V pits variable (2-12)
  • Wide rays (< 15 seriate) & homocellular

WOOD SLIDES
Click on each image to view a larger image.

CHARCOAL SLIDES

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Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab
Updated: 4/30/17

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