The fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral, while a tragic cultural loss, created a unique research opportunity to investigate past environmental conditions and medieval forest management practices in the Paris Basin by studying its oak roof beams. Partly dated between the 11th and 13th centuries, these timbers provide a unique window into the “so-called” Medieval Climate Anomaly (ca. 950-1250 CE), a period characterised by warm and dry summers that may have influenced tree growth and forestry practices. Moreover, the specific dimensions and characteristics of certain beams in the roof structure, corresponding to trees ca. 20–25 m in height and small diameters (30–50 cm), suggest selective timber sourcing tailored to specific construction requirements. To explore these aspects, the project employs a multiproxy approach integrating ring-width analysis, vessel anatomy, and carbon isotope data. The main objective of the WoodNDame project is to provide a high-resolution, multi-parameter framework for interpreting how paleoenvironmental conditions and human activities shaped the “forest” of Notre-Dame de Paris. Before interpreting the signals preserved in these timbers, it is crucial to assess the impact of carbonisation on each parameter. Comparative analyses of charred and uncharred samples, using both modern and archaeological oak, are essential to evaluate preservation levels and potential biases introduced by charring, alongside with establishing a modern tree-ring reference using 12 wood stands in the Paris Basin to disentangle climate-driven growth signals from those resulting from woodland management practices. The results are expected to inform both historical ecology and palaeoclimatology, providing a significant contribution to knowledge of human–environment interactions and offering insights relevant for modern forest management in a changing climate.
