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How quickly would a wooden treasure chest rot?

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10

$begingroup$

Suppose a wooden treasure chest is placed in an underground dungeon in a medieval European climate. The chest is as sturdily built as is practical, but isn't protected by any kind of magic or advanced technology.

In roleplaying games, wooden chests seem to last thousands of years without fail. But realistically, how long until the wood is rotten so badly that it can no longer functionally protect the contents of the chest?

technology medieval-europe preservation

share|improve this question

edited 6 hours ago

Cyn

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asked 8 hours ago

Quadratic WizardQuadratic Wizard

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$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  European climate goes from south of Spain/Italy to north of Sweden. Can you be more specific?
  $endgroup$
  – L.Dutch♦
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Depends on what kind of wood the chest is made of, and on how it is made. There are hundreds of pieces of wooden furniture, including various types of chests, preserved from the Middle Ages. From the Renaissance we have many thousands of pieces of furniture. It also depends very much on the conditions in that underground dungeon -- it helps a lot if it is dry.
  $endgroup$
  – AlexP
  5 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

10

$begingroup$

Suppose a wooden treasure chest is placed in an underground dungeon in a medieval European climate. The chest is as sturdily built as is practical, but isn't protected by any kind of magic or advanced technology.

In roleplaying games, wooden chests seem to last thousands of years without fail. But realistically, how long until the wood is rotten so badly that it can no longer functionally protect the contents of the chest?

technology medieval-europe preservation

share|improve this question

edited 6 hours ago

Cyn

19.1k22 gold badges3737 silver badges8686 bronze badges

asked 8 hours ago

Quadratic WizardQuadratic Wizard

42533 silver badges99 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  European climate goes from south of Spain/Italy to north of Sweden. Can you be more specific?
  $endgroup$
  – L.Dutch♦
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Depends on what kind of wood the chest is made of, and on how it is made. There are hundreds of pieces of wooden furniture, including various types of chests, preserved from the Middle Ages. From the Renaissance we have many thousands of pieces of furniture. It also depends very much on the conditions in that underground dungeon -- it helps a lot if it is dry.
  $endgroup$
  – AlexP
  5 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

Suppose a wooden treasure chest is placed in an underground dungeon in a medieval European climate. The chest is as sturdily built as is practical, but isn't protected by any kind of magic or advanced technology.

In roleplaying games, wooden chests seem to last thousands of years without fail. But realistically, how long until the wood is rotten so badly that it can no longer functionally protect the contents of the chest?

technology medieval-europe preservation

share|improve this question

edited 6 hours ago

Cyn

19.1k22 gold badges3737 silver badges8686 bronze badges

asked 8 hours ago

Quadratic WizardQuadratic Wizard

42533 silver badges99 bronze badges

$endgroup$

share|improve this question

edited 6 hours ago

Cyn

19.1k22 gold badges3737 silver badges8686 bronze badges

asked 8 hours ago

Quadratic WizardQuadratic Wizard

42533 silver badges99 bronze badges

share|improve this question

edited 6 hours ago

Cyn

19.1k22 gold badges3737 silver badges8686 bronze badges

asked 8 hours ago

Quadratic WizardQuadratic Wizard

42533 silver badges99 bronze badges

edited 6 hours ago

Cyn

19.1k22 gold badges3737 silver badges8686 bronze badges

edited 6 hours ago

Cyn

19.1k22 gold badges3737 silver badges8686 bronze badges

asked 8 hours ago

Quadratic WizardQuadratic Wizard

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asked 8 hours ago

Quadratic WizardQuadratic Wizard

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2 Answers
2

active

oldest

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15

$begingroup$

"Realistically" is a pretty broad spectrum of interest for us here at Worldbuilding LLC.

The condition of a standard, non-living wood treasure chest over time is naturally affected by many factors, a few keys of which are the following:

• The type of wood used: some woods are very soft and prone to rot no matter what while others are hard & dense and make for excellent structural strength over time while still others are naturally resistant to moisture & rot


• The average micro climate of the donjon in question: some are prone to flooding or extreme humidity while others are relatively dry


• The construction of the chest itself: is the wood properly cured and skillfully worked?; what materials are used, apart from wood, in the construction?; is the wood treated in any way?


• Background or residual magic: apart from any protective ensorcellments, spells, charms or enchantments that may have been available at the time, the actions of various natural thaumic forces need to be taken into account


• The presence and action of wee beasties: many kinds of insects love to eat wood and rodents are known to be ever on the lookout for an easy meal, even if that means gnawing through a two inch thick hard wood treasure chest to find it


• Finally, the precise location of the treasure chest: is the chest sitting flush to walls and floor in some dank, earthy corner?; or is it resting in an elevated location on stony feet?

Realistically, a well wrought treasure chest, crafted of thick, high quality wood & metal such as brass or bronze, placed upon a rune engraven plinth having several integral feet upon which the chest may repose safe from rat, roach and termite, in a well ventilated & not overly damp donjon in a moderately calm thaumic climate withal, should last, barring the wanton destruction of Orcs and other assorted teenage male adventurers of the Mannish persuasion, for centuries.

---

Here's a wooden chest of the Saxon era:

For the terminally curious: a very interesting article on ancient wooden chests.

share|improve this answer

edited 6 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

elemtilaselemtilas

20.7k55 gold badges4545 silver badges8585 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  can you cite chest image? I want to read more about that sweet chest.
  $endgroup$
  – Willk
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  That is a terrific answer, with some of the most bizarre spelling...to the point that there are about half a dozen words I can't even decipher. donjon = dungeon but some of the others?
  $endgroup$
  – Cyn
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Willk --- Done. Quite a few old (really old!) chests have been unearthed from really quite damp places. I'm sure Tutankhamen's is probably the oldest and in best condition of the ancient chests listed in the article!
  $endgroup$
  – elemtilas
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Cyn --- Perfectly good English throughout!
  $endgroup$
  – elemtilas
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Cyn a donjon is actually not a dungeon though.
  $endgroup$
  – Orangesandlemons
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 2 more comments

0

$begingroup$

The duration extremely depends on how exposed it is to the elements, how humid (or rainy) it is, how often it hits the freezing/thawing point during a year, if plant life is affecting it, and other such factors.

However as a reference point, this massive wooden building in Turkey has all but collapsed after about 60 years of neglect, and there's an effort to restore and maintain it.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Nex TerrenNex Terren

13.5k44 gold badges5757 silver badges105105 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Being "in an underground dungeon" constrains things somewhat (no elements, no freezing, no plant life)
  $endgroup$
  – Starfish Prime
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @StarfishPrime That's not necessarily true. It certainly wouldn't rain, and wind it unlikely to be an issue... however, flooding, general dampness, and fungi are all potential issues!
  $endgroup$
  – Arkenstein XII
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @ArkensteinXII I see you're unfamiliar with weasel words. Note the cunning language: "constrains things somewhat" does not define "things" or quantify "somewhat". I will point out that fungi ain't plants, though.
  $endgroup$
  – Starfish Prime
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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15

$begingroup$

"Realistically" is a pretty broad spectrum of interest for us here at Worldbuilding LLC.

The condition of a standard, non-living wood treasure chest over time is naturally affected by many factors, a few keys of which are the following:

• The type of wood used: some woods are very soft and prone to rot no matter what while others are hard & dense and make for excellent structural strength over time while still others are naturally resistant to moisture & rot


• The average micro climate of the donjon in question: some are prone to flooding or extreme humidity while others are relatively dry


• The construction of the chest itself: is the wood properly cured and skillfully worked?; what materials are used, apart from wood, in the construction?; is the wood treated in any way?


• Background or residual magic: apart from any protective ensorcellments, spells, charms or enchantments that may have been available at the time, the actions of various natural thaumic forces need to be taken into account


• The presence and action of wee beasties: many kinds of insects love to eat wood and rodents are known to be ever on the lookout for an easy meal, even if that means gnawing through a two inch thick hard wood treasure chest to find it


• Finally, the precise location of the treasure chest: is the chest sitting flush to walls and floor in some dank, earthy corner?; or is it resting in an elevated location on stony feet?

Realistically, a well wrought treasure chest, crafted of thick, high quality wood & metal such as brass or bronze, placed upon a rune engraven plinth having several integral feet upon which the chest may repose safe from rat, roach and termite, in a well ventilated & not overly damp donjon in a moderately calm thaumic climate withal, should last, barring the wanton destruction of Orcs and other assorted teenage male adventurers of the Mannish persuasion, for centuries.

---

Here's a wooden chest of the Saxon era:

For the terminally curious: a very interesting article on ancient wooden chests.

share|improve this answer

edited 6 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

elemtilaselemtilas

20.7k55 gold badges4545 silver badges8585 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  can you cite chest image? I want to read more about that sweet chest.
  $endgroup$
  – Willk
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  That is a terrific answer, with some of the most bizarre spelling...to the point that there are about half a dozen words I can't even decipher. donjon = dungeon but some of the others?
  $endgroup$
  – Cyn
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Willk --- Done. Quite a few old (really old!) chests have been unearthed from really quite damp places. I'm sure Tutankhamen's is probably the oldest and in best condition of the ancient chests listed in the article!
  $endgroup$
  – elemtilas
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Cyn --- Perfectly good English throughout!
  $endgroup$
  – elemtilas
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Cyn a donjon is actually not a dungeon though.
  $endgroup$
  – Orangesandlemons
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 2 more comments

15

$begingroup$

"Realistically" is a pretty broad spectrum of interest for us here at Worldbuilding LLC.

The condition of a standard, non-living wood treasure chest over time is naturally affected by many factors, a few keys of which are the following:

• The type of wood used: some woods are very soft and prone to rot no matter what while others are hard & dense and make for excellent structural strength over time while still others are naturally resistant to moisture & rot


• The average micro climate of the donjon in question: some are prone to flooding or extreme humidity while others are relatively dry


• The construction of the chest itself: is the wood properly cured and skillfully worked?; what materials are used, apart from wood, in the construction?; is the wood treated in any way?


• Background or residual magic: apart from any protective ensorcellments, spells, charms or enchantments that may have been available at the time, the actions of various natural thaumic forces need to be taken into account


• The presence and action of wee beasties: many kinds of insects love to eat wood and rodents are known to be ever on the lookout for an easy meal, even if that means gnawing through a two inch thick hard wood treasure chest to find it


• Finally, the precise location of the treasure chest: is the chest sitting flush to walls and floor in some dank, earthy corner?; or is it resting in an elevated location on stony feet?

Realistically, a well wrought treasure chest, crafted of thick, high quality wood & metal such as brass or bronze, placed upon a rune engraven plinth having several integral feet upon which the chest may repose safe from rat, roach and termite, in a well ventilated & not overly damp donjon in a moderately calm thaumic climate withal, should last, barring the wanton destruction of Orcs and other assorted teenage male adventurers of the Mannish persuasion, for centuries.

---

Here's a wooden chest of the Saxon era:

For the terminally curious: a very interesting article on ancient wooden chests.

share|improve this answer

edited 6 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

elemtilaselemtilas

20.7k55 gold badges4545 silver badges8585 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  can you cite chest image? I want to read more about that sweet chest.
  $endgroup$
  – Willk
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  That is a terrific answer, with some of the most bizarre spelling...to the point that there are about half a dozen words I can't even decipher. donjon = dungeon but some of the others?
  $endgroup$
  – Cyn
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Willk --- Done. Quite a few old (really old!) chests have been unearthed from really quite damp places. I'm sure Tutankhamen's is probably the oldest and in best condition of the ancient chests listed in the article!
  $endgroup$
  – elemtilas
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Cyn --- Perfectly good English throughout!
  $endgroup$
  – elemtilas
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Cyn a donjon is actually not a dungeon though.
  $endgroup$
  – Orangesandlemons
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 2 more comments

$begingroup$

"Realistically" is a pretty broad spectrum of interest for us here at Worldbuilding LLC.

The condition of a standard, non-living wood treasure chest over time is naturally affected by many factors, a few keys of which are the following:

• The type of wood used: some woods are very soft and prone to rot no matter what while others are hard & dense and make for excellent structural strength over time while still others are naturally resistant to moisture & rot


• The average micro climate of the donjon in question: some are prone to flooding or extreme humidity while others are relatively dry


• The construction of the chest itself: is the wood properly cured and skillfully worked?; what materials are used, apart from wood, in the construction?; is the wood treated in any way?


• Background or residual magic: apart from any protective ensorcellments, spells, charms or enchantments that may have been available at the time, the actions of various natural thaumic forces need to be taken into account


• The presence and action of wee beasties: many kinds of insects love to eat wood and rodents are known to be ever on the lookout for an easy meal, even if that means gnawing through a two inch thick hard wood treasure chest to find it


• Finally, the precise location of the treasure chest: is the chest sitting flush to walls and floor in some dank, earthy corner?; or is it resting in an elevated location on stony feet?

Realistically, a well wrought treasure chest, crafted of thick, high quality wood & metal such as brass or bronze, placed upon a rune engraven plinth having several integral feet upon which the chest may repose safe from rat, roach and termite, in a well ventilated & not overly damp donjon in a moderately calm thaumic climate withal, should last, barring the wanton destruction of Orcs and other assorted teenage male adventurers of the Mannish persuasion, for centuries.

---

Here's a wooden chest of the Saxon era:

For the terminally curious: a very interesting article on ancient wooden chests.

share|improve this answer

edited 6 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

elemtilaselemtilas

20.7k55 gold badges4545 silver badges8585 bronze badges

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

edited 6 hours ago

answered 8 hours ago

elemtilaselemtilas

20.7k55 gold badges4545 silver badges8585 bronze badges

answered 8 hours ago

elemtilaselemtilas

20.7k55 gold badges4545 silver badges8585 bronze badges

answered 8 hours ago

elemtilaselemtilas

20.7k55 gold badges4545 silver badges8585 bronze badges

0

$begingroup$

The duration extremely depends on how exposed it is to the elements, how humid (or rainy) it is, how often it hits the freezing/thawing point during a year, if plant life is affecting it, and other such factors.

However as a reference point, this massive wooden building in Turkey has all but collapsed after about 60 years of neglect, and there's an effort to restore and maintain it.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Nex TerrenNex Terren

13.5k44 gold badges5757 silver badges105105 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Being "in an underground dungeon" constrains things somewhat (no elements, no freezing, no plant life)
  $endgroup$
  – Starfish Prime
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @StarfishPrime That's not necessarily true. It certainly wouldn't rain, and wind it unlikely to be an issue... however, flooding, general dampness, and fungi are all potential issues!
  $endgroup$
  – Arkenstein XII
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @ArkensteinXII I see you're unfamiliar with weasel words. Note the cunning language: "constrains things somewhat" does not define "things" or quantify "somewhat". I will point out that fungi ain't plants, though.
  $endgroup$
  – Starfish Prime
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

0

$begingroup$

The duration extremely depends on how exposed it is to the elements, how humid (or rainy) it is, how often it hits the freezing/thawing point during a year, if plant life is affecting it, and other such factors.

However as a reference point, this massive wooden building in Turkey has all but collapsed after about 60 years of neglect, and there's an effort to restore and maintain it.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Nex TerrenNex Terren

13.5k44 gold badges5757 silver badges105105 bronze badges

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Being "in an underground dungeon" constrains things somewhat (no elements, no freezing, no plant life)
  $endgroup$
  – Starfish Prime
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @StarfishPrime That's not necessarily true. It certainly wouldn't rain, and wind it unlikely to be an issue... however, flooding, general dampness, and fungi are all potential issues!
  $endgroup$
  – Arkenstein XII
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @ArkensteinXII I see you're unfamiliar with weasel words. Note the cunning language: "constrains things somewhat" does not define "things" or quantify "somewhat". I will point out that fungi ain't plants, though.
  $endgroup$
  – Starfish Prime
  6 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

The duration extremely depends on how exposed it is to the elements, how humid (or rainy) it is, how often it hits the freezing/thawing point during a year, if plant life is affecting it, and other such factors.

However as a reference point, this massive wooden building in Turkey has all but collapsed after about 60 years of neglect, and there's an effort to restore and maintain it.

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Nex TerrenNex Terren

13.5k44 gold badges5757 silver badges105105 bronze badges

$endgroup$

share|improve this answer

answered 8 hours ago

Nex TerrenNex Terren

13.5k44 gold badges5757 silver badges105105 bronze badges

answered 8 hours ago

Nex TerrenNex Terren

13.5k44 gold badges5757 silver badges105105 bronze badges

answered 8 hours ago

Nex TerrenNex Terren

13.5k44 gold badges5757 silver badges105105 bronze badges