Thursday, October 29th, 2020 4:00 p.m. MDT
Online Webinar
Southwestern archaeology and tree-ring dating have been inextricably intertwined for more than a century. Woven together like strands in a complex tapestry with interesting personalities, stunning discoveries, and analytical milestones, the history of our discipline is highlighted by dendrochronological discoveries and contributions. For nearly half-a-century, archaeologists have analyzed large tree-ring date databases as they work to discover and discern broad demographic, settlement, climatological, and other trends in pre-Columbian history. Often, however, those databases have been analyzed at face value, uncritically, with little regard to the history of research and how that might affect the nature of the available data. There are now tens of thousands of tree-ring dates available to scholars from archaeological sites across the American Southwest. Archaeologists are beginning to take tentative steps to analyze these data en masse. The question remains, however, whether large tree-ring datasets contain systematic biases that may affect our interpretations. In this presentation, Steve presents several case studies from several locations around the American Southwest to make the case that we must always understand and account for the historical origins and biases inherent in these data.
The webinar is suitable for lifelong learners from high school students to adults. The lesson is free.
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