http://www.oldhouseonline.com/the-histo ... -flooring/
When envisioning historic interiors, many people picture rooms fitted with expanses of gleaming wooden floors embellished with oriental rugs. This perception of the past is only partly accurate—in truth, polished hardwood floors (and room-size oriental carpets) were not commonplace until the late 19th century. Before that time, wood was indeed the predominant material used in flooring, but its appearance was much humbler than you might expect.
The first wooden floors in colonial America were wide, thick planks cut from the continent’s abundant old-growth forests. Because of the trees’ age and massive diameter, the desirable heartwood was extremely tight-grained, making the lumber harder and more durable than the relatively immature wood of the same species that is harvested today.
