dendrochronology
(ˌdɛndrəʊkrəˈnɒlədʒɪ)
[f. dendro- + chronology.]
The science of arranging events in the order of time by the comparative study of the annual growth rings in (ancient) timber. Hence ˌdendrochronoˈlogical a., ˌdendrochronoˈlogically adv., ˌdendrochroˈnologist.
| 1928 A. E. Douglass Climatic Cycles & Tree Growth II. 5 We are measuring the lapse of time by means of a slow-geared clock within the trees. For this study the name ‘dendro-chronology’ has been suggested, or ‘tree-time’. This expression covers all the dating and historic problems..as well as the study of cyclic variations and the distribution of climatic conditions. 1937 Geogr. Jrnl. LXXXIX. 407 A dendrochronologist is a man who investigates the climate of the past by measuring the rings of trees. 1937 Proc. Prehist. Soc. III. 321 The modern ways of pollen-analysis, geochronology and dendrochronology must be applied to settle geologically, once for all, the cultural correlations with Scotland. 1959 Antiquity XXXIII. 238 Undateable except by a rough and ready guesswork calculation from dendrochronological dates. 1969 Nature 15 Nov. 682/1 Radiocarbon measurements carried out on dendrochronologically dated wood samples. |