●●Dendrochronology comes from Greek words: Dendron – tree; chronos – time; logos – study of, knowledge of.
To use this method, archaeologists have built up a continuous record of tree-ring
growth going back thousands of years. In Ireland, this record was compiled in Queen’s University, Belfast. It records tree-ring growth in our country back to 5300 BC.
Dendrochronology
Go onto YouTube and look up ‘Why Do Trees Have Rings? – James May’s Q&A’
OLDER MORE RECENT
Dendrochronology: New pieces of wood found in ruins or buildings in different parts of Ireland are compared with the record of tree-ring growth to date when the timber was grown and when it was used
Radiocarbon Dating Plants and animals take in carbon-14 when they are alive. When they die, carbon-14 begins to decay. Samples such as charcoal, wood, seeds and human and animal bone can be investigated when they are found. The age of the plant, person or animal can be worked out by measuring the amount of radiocarbon left in the sample or piece.
Other evidence used by archaeologists
Wattle and daub walls – interwoven sticks covered with mud
Post hole
Coins have a date or
head of a ruler stamped on them. Objects found with them will be from the same time.
These posts supported the walls
Trench Post holes – darkened soil patches where posts have rotted away – show the shape and size of buildings 12
