Archeological dendrochronology in the southwestern united states

Abstract

Dendrochronology, the science of tree‐ring dating, is the most accurate and precise nondocumentary dating method available to researchers studying the recent past. Tree‐ring dates are accurate and precise to the year and sometimes the season, and have no associated statistical uncertainty or standard error. Other prominent archeological dating techniques that use natural materials (for example, radiocarbon and archeomagnetism) have been calibrated using dendrochronological samples.1 It is this precision and accuracy that has allowed archeologists working in the southwestern United States to construct the most detailed chronologies in the world, and to explore a plethora of environmental, social, and behavioral questions regarding past human adaptation to the region.

Dendrochronology and Past Human Activity—A Review of Advances Since 2000

“…Nash 2002;Towner 2000Towner , 2002. The LTRR has investigated several thousand standing structures, including a large number of prehistoric and historic Native American sites of the Navajo, Ute, Hopi, Zuni, and Puebloan cultures (Towner, personal communication).…”

Occurrence of annual growth rings in Rhizophora mangle in a region with low climate seasonality

“…The occurrence of annual growth rings in a woody plant is of great relevance, because it allows the use of the species in dendrochronological studies and their application in studies of climatology (Hughes 2002, Schongart et al 2004, archeology (Kuniholm 2002, Towner 2002, and ecology (Fritts andSwetnam 1989, Rozendal and, among others. In tropical regions, the formation of annual rings has been associated to environmental factors, such as the occurrence of a well-defi ned dry season or prolonged periods of inundation (Coster 1927, Worbes 1999, Dünisch et al 2002, Schongart et al 2002, and to biological factors, such as phenology and conservative rhythms (Alvim and Alvim 1978, Callado et al 2001, Costa et al 2013.…”

Dendrochronological Dating of the Lund-Spathelf House, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

“…Dendroarchaeology, the study of historic and prehistoric structures or objects using techniques of dendrochronology, has increased in recent decades (Grissino-Mayer 2009;Towner 2002). In the United States, the majority of dendroarchaeological research has been conducted in the Southwest (Douglass 1921;Dean 1978;Bekker and Heath 2007;Towner et al 2009) and the Southeast (Stahle 1979;Bortolot et al 2001;Grissino-Mayer and van de Gevel 2007;van de Gevel et al 2009).…”

“…Usually, a construction date can be obtained by searching through deeds, census data, wills, or maps at local municipal offices or libraries. However, if searching the documentary records fails, other techniques, such as dendrochronology, can be used (Grissino-Mayer and van de Gevel 2007;Grissino-Mayer 2009).Dendroarchaeology, the study of historic and prehistoric structures or objects using techniques of dendrochronology, has increased in recent decades (Grissino-Mayer 2009;Towner 2002). In the United States, the majority of dendroarchaeological research has been conducted in the Southwest (Douglass 1921;Dean 1978;Bekker and Heath 2007;Towner et al 2009) and the Southeast (Stahle 1979;Bortolot et al 2001;Grissino-Mayer and van de Gevel 2007;van de Gevel et al 2009).…”