Tree-ring research
Tree rings form a unique archive of the past and provide valuable information for research questions ranging from archaeology to ecology. Tree-ring research, also known as dendrochronology, makes use of the fact that trees record environmental conditions and disturbances in their ring structure. Tree-ring width, for example, varies from year to year depending on the conditions under which a tree grows.
Tharandt is closely associated with the early development of dendrochronology in Europe. As early as the 1930s, Prof. Bruno Huber conducted pioneering tree-ring research here. The DendroLab builds on this scientific tradition using modern dendroecological, wood-anatomical and anthracological methods.
At the DendroLab, we “read” the tree-ring archive to investigate how environmental processes and site conditions shape tree growth and vitality. The resulting insights help us assess how forests may respond to global change and how forest management can support their resilience. Historical and archaeological wood, together with charcoal remains, also provide insights into past tree-species composition, forest use and growing conditions.
