Dendroarchaeology in Europe

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

Willy Tegel²  Bernhard Muigg³  Georgios Skiadaresis⁴  Andrea Seim⁵  Jan Vanmoerkerke⁶ 

[1] Amt für Archäologie, Kanton Thurgau, Frauenfeld, Switzerland;Chair of Forest Growth and Dendroecology, Institute of Forest Sciences, Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany;Chair of Forest History, Institute of Forest Sciences, Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany;Chair of Silviculture, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany;Department of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria;Regional Archaeological Service, Directions Régionales des Affaires Culturelles, Châlons-en-Champagne, France;

关键词: tree rings;    dendrochronology;    land use;    paleoecology;    wood anatomy;    wood technology;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fevo.2022.823622

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Human evolution was strongly related to environmental factors. Woodlands and their products played a key role in the production of tools and weapons, and provided unique resources for constructions and fuel. Therefore wooden finds are essential in gaining insights into climatic and land use changes but also societal development during the Holocene. Dendroarchaeological investigations, based on tree rings, wood anatomy and techno-morphological characteristics are of great importance for a better understanding of past chronological processes as well as human-environment-interactions. Here we present an overview of the sources, methods, and concepts of this interdisciplinary field of dendroarchaeology focusing on Europe, where several tree-ring chronologies span most of the Holocene. We describe research examples from different periods of human history and discuss the current state of field. The long settlement history in Europe provides a myriad of wooden archeological samples not only for dating but also offer exciting new findings at the interface of natural and social sciences and the humanities.

【 授权许可】

Unknown