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A 7,272-year tree-ring chronology for western Europe

Nature volume 312, pages 150–152 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

Long tree-ring chronologies provide a unique calendrical record that is of value for archaeological dating, climatic and post-glacial studies. They also form a standard for the calibration of the radiocarbon time scale. The world's longest continuous tree-ring chronology is based on the bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata and Pinus longaeva) growing in the White Mountains of California1–3. The great age of living and sub-fossil trees of this species enabled a continuous tree-ring sequence of 8,681 years to be established, providing absolutely dated wood samples for the first radiocarbon calibration4,5. We have now established an unbroken west European tree-ring sequence spanning the past 7,272 years.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Palaeoecology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK

    J. R. Pilcher & M. G. L. Baillie

  2. University of Köln, 5000, Köln, 41, Weyertal 125, FRG

    B. Schmidt

  3. University of Hohenheim, 7000, Stuttgart, 70, Garbenstrasse 30, FRG

    B. Becker

Authors
  1. J. R. Pilcher
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  2. M. G. L. Baillie
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  3. B. Schmidt
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  4. B. Becker
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Pilcher, J., Baillie, M., Schmidt, B. et al. A 7,272-year tree-ring chronology for western Europe. Nature 312, 150–152 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/312150a0

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