The first and obvious strength of accelerator mass spectroscopy and other small-sample radiocarbon techniques is in the tiny quantities of material they destroy, opening the way for ¹⁴C determinations on little and precious objects -- fabric and pictures, as examples -- from which no curator will sacrifice a large piece. In this case, the object is a more substantial thing, but the point still applies; and the size of its timbers has made possible a completely independent and confirming date by dendrochronology. -- AATA