Dendrochronological Reconstruction

1

• Dendrochronological Reconstruction
• Dates
• Relative sequence
• Absolute dates
• Errors in archeological interpretation
• Behavior
• Construction habits
• Environment
• Climate in the past

2

• Dendrochronology Dating
• Does date of wood sample construction date?

3
Archeological Interpretation of Dates

• Outer date predates construction event
• Collected dead tree
• Collected a bunch of trees, stockpiled
• Reuse a beam from old house
• 14th century log used in 1929, Oraibi
• Large sites versus distinct sites
• Outer date postdates construction event
• New log put in during repair
• Problem or solution?
• Could date repair sequences

4

• Date Clustering Saves the Day
• Given lots of dates, the date of construction
  event will be the best cluster of dates
• Most frequent date

5
Kin Endeschee
6

• Date Clusters
• Skewed beginning slow development of site
• Steep ending fast abandonment
• Early dates may be stockpiling, re-use
• Late dates may be repair beams
• Requires a lot of dates, replication

7

• Cutting Date or Not?
• Outermost ring was when tree died
• Evidence of cutting date
• Bark, best but not common
• Complete outer ring
• Beetle galleries
• Dark patina veneer

8

• Non-cutting Dates
• Some number of outer rings lost
• Erosion
• Shaping
• Burning
• What to do?
• Estimate of outer rings
• Admit non-cutting and leave it
• Rely on clustering

9

• Behavioral Characteristics
• Type of cutting devices
• Fire
• Stone axes
• Metal axes
• Repair schedules
• Stockpiling, cooperation

10
SW Archeology Sequence

• Chaco Anasazi abandoned by 1130-1150
• Start of a long period of drought

11
SW Archeology Sequence

• Mesa Verde Anasazi abandoned by 1280s
• In period known as Great Drought

12
SW Archeology Sequence

• Kayenta Anasazi Betatakin, Keet Seel begun by
  1250, abandoned by 1300
• Perhaps affected by arroyo formation