Dendrochronology

Dendrochronology is the scientific method of tree-ring dating.

A dendrochronologist is a scientist who studies the annual rings of trees to determine the dates and chronology of past events. The practical applications of the study of tree-rings are numerous. Dendrochronology is an interdisciplinary science, and its theory and techniques can be applied to many situations. For paintings, the principle goal is to at least offer a terminus post quem date (the earliest possible date for the creation of an object ) by determining the felling date of the tree from which the wood for the panel was made. In this context, dendrochronology is valuable for investigating art-historical issues. The study of provenance is another extremely important objective in the field of dendrochronology.