The Potential for Archaeological Tree-Ring Dating in Eastern North America

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the potential for archaeological tree-ring dating in Eastern North America. Dendrochronology is the most accurate and precise prehistoric dating method available in those regions where it can be successfully applied. Tree-ring dating in the southwestern United States has helped to establish one of the most detailed prehistoric cultural chronologies in the world. Tree-ring dating of historic period buildings, ships, and sites is definitely possible in eastern North America, and the old timbers in some structures may provide essential help in long chronology development or extension. Tree-ring dating of prehistoric sites in the East is feasible, but the overriding problem remains the lack of long, well-dated master chronologies with broad geographic coverage. The reexamination of Bell's tree-ring analysis of the Kincaid site indicates both the promise and problems facing the development of prehistoric archaeological tree-ring dating in the East. In spite of this possibly limited applicability in the East, the potential significance of archaeological tree-ring analysis in terms of absolute dating of important sites, calibration of other dating methods, relative dating, seasonality, and climatic reconstruction far exceeds the simple dating of individual sites and should be pursued in earnest.