Abstract
One form of evidence of past human activity is the recovery of plant materials such as seeds, fruits, stems, and wood that have been routinely utilized as food, in construction, as clothing, in religious or other ceremonies, or as fuel. A careful study of the anatomical record of these materials can be used to help reconstruct an accurate picture of the life of prehistoric people, and to extend the knowledge of the undocumented climatic conditions under which they lived. Preserved wood and charcoal samples are especially valuable in dating historical buildings and archaeological sites and for interpreting past climates by studying the successive growth rings within a tree trunk. Tree-ring widths vary with climate. Abundant precipitation and soil moisture result in wide rings, whereas under drought conditions or less-than-average rainfall the rings are narrow or absent. Fire, pests, and disease also leave their marks within the ring sequence. The basis for all tree ring studies is the construction of a regional master chronology that extends back in time without interruption. The requirement of identifying and dating annual growth rings is achieved by utilizing a technique known as cross dating.
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