Further to an earlier note on the excavation of a sledge discovered on the Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands in 2007 (Pearson and others Reference Pearson, Stehberg, Zarankin, Senatore and Gatica2008), test results have been received confirming the initial identification of the origin and date of the sledge.

Analysis of the timber species indicates that the two sledge runners and decking are white pine (Pinus sp., probably P. strobus or P. monticola), the ski runner planks and some cross pieces are hard pine (Pinus sp., possibly P. resinosa) while other cross pieces are white oak (Quercus sp.) and spruce (Picea sp.). Given the distribution pattern of these species in America and Europe, they are probably of north American origin, being species readily available in the forests of northeastern USA and southeastern Canada. This would support our earlier assessment, based on historical evidence of the utilisation of the area by sealers, that the sledge was left by US or Canadian sealers.

Thermoluminescence dating of a stoneware liquor bottle excavated among the sledge components, date the manufacture of the bottle to 1885 ± 20 years (UCTL 1933; P(Gy): 0,57± 0,08; D8Gy/year: 4,74*10⁻³). This means the bottle could originate from almost any of the expeditions that took place during the period of revived sealing by US and Canadian sealers (1871–1908), supporting the earlier suggested dating.

Combining the timber analysis and the thermoluminescence dating, the sledge can be interpreted with some confidenceas having been left by either one of the US sealing expeditions operating in the South Shetlands between 1871 and 1892, or by one of the Canadian sealing party operating there between 1894 and 1905 (the latter being the limit of the dating range for the bottle).