A Guide to Dendrochronology for Educators

Tree Core
by Lori Martinez


Tree CellsThese Web pages were created to be used by both teachers and students interested in learning more about dendrochronology, the study of tree rings. You can use the information here to supplement a lesson plan or to expand your basic knowledge of dendrochronology principles. Most of the images here were scanned using the original wood samples. The captions beside the pictures contain terminology used by dendrochronologists when referring to tree-ring characteristics.

These pages are divided into several major categories that should answer some of the more common questions regarding dendrochronology. These include a page that explains in detail the basic principle of crossdating, a page that illustrates some basic applications of dendrochronology, and two pages that show photographs of tree species suitable and unsuitable for tree-ring dating. I also supply several links to other very useful pages concerning tree-ring dating from where educators can obtain additional background informations.




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Constructed by Lori Martinez, Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721. I wish to thank Rex Adams for being an understanding and patient mentor throughout my summer of dendro-enlightenment, and Henri D. Grissino-Mayer for teaching me to be a little more computer literate. Both have made my time here at the LTRR fun and educational. I would like to express my appreciation to Dr. Malcolm Hughes, Director of the LTRR, for providing me the opportunity to expand my teaching skills through the hands-on experience I gained here at the laboratory. I would also like to acknowledge Martin Munro, Michelle Wood, Phyllis Gress, and Bob Lofgren. All graphics and text on these pages © 1996 by Lori Martinez, Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, and The University of Arizona. Last updated February, 2000. All rights reserved.