A general view of some of the problems involved in the analysis of archaeological timbers suggested the need to look in more detail at two aspects of tree-ring dating: sapwood estimations in oak (<i>Quercus</i> spp), and the use of short ring sequences. These are either not encountered or are not important in studies of modern trees or in the examination of timbers for chronology-building. Presents sapwood statistics for different regions of northwest Europe. The number of sapwood rings varies with age, depending on whether the tree is mature or immature. For immature trees, average ring width is also related, although it does not affect the sapwood number of mature trees. Recommends the use of a range of 10-55 sapwood rings for all oak samples from the British Isles. Geographical variation in sapwood number means that these values have to be modified for imported timbers. Also examines the possibilities of dating ring sequences with as few as 30-50 rings. Although short ring sequences are often used unwisely, under certain conditions they can be used for relative, and occasionally, absolute dating. Some examples of the use and misuse of such patterns are given.