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The Spike of Fascinating & Unexpected





SPIKE 22
→ DENDROCHRONOLOGY.



© 1. Tryfonov — section of an oak tree with annual rings / 2. Freepik — slice of old wood / 3. CC0 Public Domain / 4. iStock / 5. Stefan Kühn — Dendrochronological sample from a beam in Gödenroth Rathaus / 6. Benoit Brossier/ISEM — Plateau Dendrologie / 7. CC0 Public Domain / 8. ÚOP Ostrava — Josef Kyncl’s conference / 9. Arnoldius — Tree rings seen in a cross-section of a trunk of a tree / 10. unknown / 11. Rick Goldwaser — Methuselah.


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Dendrochronology is the scientific method of dating and studying past events by analysing patterns of tree rings in wooden objects, such as tree trunks, logs, and timbers. Each year, trees produce a new growth ring, which varies in width and composition depending on environmental factors like climate, rainfall, temperature, and soil conditions. Dendrochronologists examine tree rings to determine the age of the tree and create a chronological sequence of annual growth patterns. By comparing these patterns across different trees or wooden artefacts, scientists can establish precise timelines of past events, such as climate change, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and human activities like construction and deforestation.

This methodology has consequently diverse applications in various fields, including archaeology, climatology, ecology, and forestry. For example, it played a crucial role in verifying the age of wooden panels used in famous paintings and historical buildings. By analysing the tree rings in the wood, experts can determine the exact year the tree was cut down, providing valuable information about the provenance and authenticity of the artefact. This technique has helped confirm the origins of pieces by artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt.

The oldest tree ever dated using dendrochronology is a bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) named Methuselah, located in the White Mountains of California. Methuselah is over 4,800 years old, making it one of the oldest known living trees on Earth. By studying the tree rings of bristlecone pines like Methuselah, scientists have been able to gain insights into ancient climate patterns and historical events that occurred over millennia.




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