Dendrochronology at Medieval Lübeck, Germany

Tree ring dating, often called dendrochronology, is a fascinating science that uses the growth rings of long-lived trees as a record of climatic change in a region. Tree ring analysis has been around a long time, and perhaps its best known use is to help scientists confirm and correct radiocarbon dates. But that's not all dendrochronology is good for.

An article by researcher Dieter Eckstein in a recent issue of Dendrochronologia called Human time in tree rings is a case in point. Eckstein, a wood biologist at the University of Hamburg, investigated the wooden buildings and objects from the Medieval town of Lübeck, Germany to learn about the town's booms and busts.

• Tree Rings and Culture, a description of the recent work in Lübeck
• Dendrochronology, a definition
• Radiocarbon Calibration Update, the role of tree rings in radiocarbon dating