PhD student Seungyeon Hong recently shared an update on the Dating Iroquoia project, detailing the critical role of tree-ring analysis in radiocarbon dating. Hong explains how examining the structure of tree rings—particularly the outermost rings—can provide more accurate dating of past human activities. The role of tree-rings in radiocarbon dating highlights ongoing research on wood samples from archaeological sites in the St. Lawrence Valley. By carefully selecting, dissecting, and analyzing the outermost rings of these samples, they can determine the timing of tree cutting and use. Hong and the Dating Iroquoia team will present their findings at the upcoming Society for American Archaeology (SAA) meeting this April. Stay tuned for further updates on this groundbreaking research! Illustration by Seungyeon Hong. See more images and read the project blog here!
