geog5839.14, the history of dendrochronology
TRANSCRIPT
October 25
The history of dendrochronology
RINGS IN THE BRANCHES OF SAWED TREES SHOW
THE NUMBER OF YEARS AND, ACCORDING TO THEIR
THICKNESS, THE YEARS WHICH WERE
MORE OR LESS
DRY.
“ ”
Leonardo da Vinci
Photograph: Anshul Nigham
... and if one forces a stone or similar object into a tree, it becomes hidden, since the new growth surrounds it, as was the case with the wild olive treewhich stood in the market place at Megara.
“ ”Theophrastus (371 - 287 BC)
Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau1700 - 1782
Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Bu!on1707 - 1788
Photograph: Fri!s Schweingruber
Frost ring Pinus sibirica
1737➟1708
Alexander Twining1801 - 1884
“...every tree told the same story.”
Tucson, AZ
ANDREW ELLICOTTDOUGLASS
Flagsta!, AZ
Andrew Douglass (right) Flagsta! 1898
Source: Sam Wise
Lowell Observatory Flagsta! Arizona
Source: Schiaparelli (1888)
Tucson, AZ
Photograph: Howard Arno!
Photograph: Christine and John Fournier
We do not know how old these ruins are, but I should be glad to have an opinion from you as to whether it might be possible to connect up with your modern and dated trees specimens [with wood specimens] from these [prehistoric] ruins by correlating the curves of growth…
“ ”Clark Wissler to A.E. Douglass
1909
Aztec Ruin
Publo Bonita
Source: Sco" Catron
Aztec Ruin National Monument New Mexico
Source: Chris M
Pueblo Bonito New Mexico
Pueblo Bonito New Mexico (before it was excavated)
Source: Stones 55
Wupatki New Mexico
1900180017001600150014001300
Living-tree chronology
‘Floating’ chronology
National Geographic ‘Beam Expeditions’ 1923 and 1929
Show Low, AZ
$5for
100 rings
$65for
100 rings2011 dollars
1900180017001600150014001300
120011001000900800700
Living-tree chronology
‘Floating’ chronology
HH-3913801237
For the three of us, the experience was unforge"able. To be present at the instance of the celebrated breakthrough in science that set the chronological house in order for the Southwestern United States was reward enough. But beyond that, was the privilege to work for a time at the side of Douglass, the scholar, the astronomer turned archaeologist.
“ ”Emil Haury
1962
Tree-ring display at elementary school
Photograph: Tom Swetnam
GEOG8280NEXT CLASS