Variation of tree ring width translated into summer temperature anomalies for the past 7000 years, based on samples from Holocene deposits on Yamal Peninsula and Siberian now living conifers.[1]

Credit R.M.Hantemirov – Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology

Dendrochronology and Radiocarbon Dating are important sciences for dating ancient artifacts. An important example of dendrochronolgy is its role in dating the sunken hull and its artifacts in my most popular post 24. Uluburun Shipwreck 3,319 Years Ago Reveals Rich Bronze Age Trade Route.  Radiocarbon dating does not require the preservation of a large chunk of wood, but it does have technical weaknesses in dating most wood submerged and soaked for long periods, in this case thousands of years. 

As Maritime Archaeology opens up the sea floor to ever greater depths, archaeology is finding a new source of ancient artifacts and some exciting surprises. The Black Sea’s greatest depths are anoxic and therefore do not support life forms which methodically decay shipwrecks. A recent gift to archaeologists was found there and reported in October 2018.

Tree rings are also useful in Dendroclimatology, the fruits of which are demonstrated in the chart of precipitation over the past 7,000 years, which I used to headline this post. Study it and be amazed.

Tree-ring based dating and climate histories need tree rings. That leads me to introduce the Bristlecone pine trees whose oldest living example exceeds 5,000 years.

Take a last look at the top graph. Tell me there’s not a lot more blue than red in the last 4,000 years. By that dendroclimatology study, it looks like we’re heading toward the next ice age.

Thanks for visiting,

R. E. J. Burke