Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research:One- hundred-seven years of

collecting, cross-dating, analyzing, archiving & curating of tree ring samples

Dendrochronology: The value of cross-dated tree rings

The dating of Events and Processes with absolute annual resolution

RMM05A 1644-1986 22Fire Scars PIPO

ZMT08N 1939-1998 PSME

MUMMY CAVE,AZ A.D.261-348PSME

Summary History of the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research

1894 Andrew E. Douglass, astronomer, helps establish Lowell Observatory

1901 Douglass defines sunspot problem and possible solution, first tree ring samples

1904 Douglass, Lowell & Mars

1906 Douglass takes position at the University of Arizona in physics & astronomy

1911 Douglass collecting at Prescott realizes power of cross-dating

19teens, 20s & 30s Douglass collects in sequoia forests, archaeological sites & internationally

1929 “Bridges the Gap” between the southwestern archaeological & modern tree ring record

1937 Board of Regents formally establishes the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research

1940s, 50s Douglass, Edmund Schulman & colleagues expand the research interests & applications

1958 Edmund Schulman dies unexpectedly

1962 A.E. Douglass dies at age 94 after a remarkable career that spanned not just time, but also multiple disciplines and international boundaries

1962-Present Four Directors, multiple large scale projects, numerous small individual projects, multiple disciplines, expansion into international /global tree-ring research

Dendrochronology has a long standing relationship with intercollegiate athletics

Upper: Sancet Baseball Stadium

Lower: Sequoia radials from 1918 in old baseball

stadiumUpper: Bear Down Basketball

ArenaLower: 10foot diameter sequoia

cross sectionUpper: Arizona Football

StadiumLower: A.E.Douglass in Arizona

Stadium Office1946

ARCHIVE & CURATE: What? Why? How?

Archive: systematic recording & storage

Archive to ensure that scientific data is retained both as the hard data(wood)

and as the results of analyses.

Archive by maintaining accurate records through the entire process of sample collection, analyses & storage.

Most important words:

SAMPLE IDENTIFICATION #

Curate: preserve & protect

Curate in order to allow for future research on questions not yet asked.

Curate prevents the degradation of the hard data(wood) and the results of analyses.

Most important word:

WATER

ARCHIVING starts in the field, ends in storage

SAMPLE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS

BAN211

BSE02D(1), BSE02D(2), BSE02D(3)

ZMTO8E, ZMT08F, ZMTO8G, ZMT08H

PSL024B

TRL2004-064F

VISIUAL AIDS IN ARCHIVINGColor Coding boxes by category of sample

Blue = Climate Red = Fire History Green = Ecology

Brown = Sequoia

Blue lettering=Bristlecone pine

ARCHIVE BOXING & SHELVING SYSTEMS

14 x 14 x 14 cube boxes (standard for archaeology & oversized cross section and small bulk wood; based on

maximum size of band-saw cut )Shelving is 1x14 pine board w/ 1x2, 2x2 & 2x4 framing

24 x 10 x 8 rectangular boxes (standard for

increment cores, smaller cut down cross sections;

based on increment borer of 50 cm ~20inches)Shelving is ¾ inch

plywood w/ 2x4 legs & 1x4 stringers

MANUFACTURED SHELVING SYSTEMS

Metal shelving systems have limitations in adaptation to odd shaped areas, but are good

in linear situations.

These units are 9feet high , 24 inches deep & 42 inches wide.

ARCHIVE INVENTORY/ACCESS

CURATE: PRESERVE & PROTECT

• WOOD & WATER NOT A GOOD COMBINATION• MAINTAIN ARCHIVE AREAS AT 10-20% HUMIDITY• MOISTURE CONTENT OF WOOD 2-8%

• WITH WATER COMES FUNGI & INSECTS

• DRY VIA DRYING OVENS , MICROWAVE (BE CAREFUL)

• FREEZE & KEEP FROZEN OR DEHYDRATE

TWO LARGE ARCHIVING & CURATING EXAMPLES“Synthesis Project” & Bristlecone Pine Project

• “A SYNTHESIS OF SOUTHWESTERN DENDROCHRONOLOGY”

• 1963-1975 (50 PERSON YEARS OF WORK)

• 4 MAJOR COLLECTIONS &1 PRIVATE

‘SYNTHESIS PROJECT’ RESULTS

• COMPLETE INVENTORY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SAMPLES • 3X5 INDEX CARD FILE & HANGING FILE FOLDER INVENTORY RECORDS• CHECK OF ALL SAMPLES FOR DUPLICATION• CHECK OF ALL SAMPLES FOR CROSSDATING ACCURACY• ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCESSION NUMBERING SYSTEM • BETTER RECORD KEEPING • PUBLISHING OF “QUADRANGLE SERIES” OF COLLECTIONS AND

CHRONOLOGIES

ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARCHIVE TODAY• 400,000 + samples (~85% charcoal)• ~33% (132,000 cross-dated)• Represent 10,000 + sites• AED Archaeological boxes 1-678• ~3-5,000 new samples received annually• Other Archaeological collections:– Navajo Land Claims– Bell/Hawley TVA– Alaska, Louis J, Giddings

– Lost Collections:• Missouri Basin Survey• Massachusetts Historical Society

THE BRISTLECONE PINE PROJECT• Five Researchers Over a 50 Year Time Span: Now All Dead• 2000 Thomas P. Harlan receives small $$ gift • 2002 Joined by graduate student Christine L. Hallman • Attempting a complete inventory of all bristlecone data• Access Database Inventory has 11,500 + individual samples

– Plus all field notes, b/w photos, slides, (repeats) worksheets , chronologies, new GPS locations with map overlays, scanned sections

SOME SIMPLE DO’S & DON’T’S• Do use cotton string not rubber bands

• Do use cotton batting, paper straws, cardboard boxes not plastic

DO’S & DON’T’S CONTINUED• Do use Kraft paper tape not adhesive, fiber or duct tape

• Do use box clips do not just fold the lids in together

DO’S & DON’T’S CONTINUED• Do use water soluble white/yellow wood glue not any permanent mastic• Do single shelf or double shelf not multi-stacked boxes per shelf• Do keep shelf bottoms 2 inches off the floor not directly on the floor• Many other little do’s & don’t’s & a BIG DO & DON’T

• Do keep paper records; Do not rely solely on electronic databases

• Breakdown in the system mid 1980s SOP

FUTURE RESEARCH USE • While not predictable, best to do as little to the sample as possible

FUTURE RESEARCH USE CONTINUED• Wood is sanded with successive finer grits; no sealer used

LEGAL & ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

LEGALLY BOUND BY THE SPECIFICATION S SET FORTH IN PERMITS

LEGALLY BOUND BY PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN PROJECT FUNDING

LEGALLY BOUND BY THE STATE OF ARIZONA RULES & REGULATIONS

ETHICALLY BOUND TO MAINTAIN THE COLLECTIONS IN A PRESERVED & PROTECTED MANNER

THIS IS NOT JUST A LABORATORY OF TREE-RING RESEARCH COLLECTION

IT IS A WORLD HERITAGE COLLECTION

HEALTH & SAFETY QUESTIONS

• FUNGI

• WOOD DUST

• CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS

• OUTREACH VISITS

• DRY SAMPLES , USE DILUTE BLEACH SPRAY

• WORKSHOP VACUUM & EXHAUST FAN(S)

• FOR ALL USE N95 DUSTMASKS & DISPOSABLE GLOVES

• SAFE ENVIROMENT

Future for LTRR & science of Dendrochronology Present faculty, staff & student members equals 57 (www.ltrr.arizona.edu/people.html)

Faculty = 7, Joint appointments & P.I.s=14, Retired emeritus=3Scientific staff=6, Admin staff=3Graduate students=16, Undergrad student assistants=4, Temps=4(No Staff member with curator credentials, there never has been)

Present space allocation in square footage equals ~18,000 sq.ft. (400,000 + archaeological samples , 800, 000+ other samples from projects)

Space allocation is in 3 locations (2 on campus 1 off campus)~two/thirds of the space is for archive and curating

Arizona Football Stadium

Math East Building SunnySide Elementary School Storage

NEW SPACE January 2008Arizona Board of Regents & University approve $3.2 million renovation of space in

West Stadium (increase square footage by 17,000 sq ft)

70th Anniversary giftNovember 2007 At the 70th Anniversary a Long-Time Friend of LTRR gives $9 million

The gift has two purposes:

First; build a true archive with a minimum of 10,000 sq.ft.

Second; create a permanent position & hire a true curator ,

someone trained in all aspects of curation

This position will likely be advertised in the next two

months

The Future of DendrochronologyIn the mid 1950s, in the United States there was one tree ring research laboratory

Internationally there were perhaps a-half dozenToday , the T-shirt illustrates nicelythe international scope of interest,research & cooperation in Dendrochronology.http://web.utk.edu/~grissino/links.htm#institutesThis web address link provides a connection to known tree ring research groups globally.

http://web.utk.edu/~grissino/forum.htmThis web address link provides access to the InternationalTree Ring Data Bank Forum. It is possible to ask questionsabout sampling, chronology development, computer programs, archive/curation procedures and general questions.

Every 4 years there is an International Conferenceof Dendrochronology attended by 300+ from 30 countries.There are annual conferences by region and country.There are related annual field-weeks workshops.Information on these conferences/workshops are sent through the ITRDBForum.

http://www.ltrr.arizona.eduhttp://web.utk.edu/~grissino/In general, most any query about dendrochronology can be answered through these web-pages.

REFERENCES

LARGE SCALE PROJECTS POST 1962• “Synthesis Project”• Major dating efforts with bristlecone pine• Calibration of the radiocarbon calendar• Development of tree ring growth models• Stream-flow reconstructions e.g. Colorado River• Mexican Dendrochronology Project• Southwest Paleoclimatic Network• Southern Hemisphere Project• California Oregon Chronology Development Project• Multi-component Sequoia Project• EPA Project• Fire History Network Project• Mesa Verde Archaeological Dating Projects• Middle Eastern, Mediterranean & North African Chronology Development• Dendroisotope studies• Tropical dendrochronology & climatology• Numerous M.A., PhD. & other smaller projects