Studies in Dendrochronology, North Island, New Zealand

Abstract

The idea to study dendrochronology came whilst examining the relation of Karaka (corynocarpus laevigatus) groves to Kaianga and Pa sites at Palliser Bay, in the wairarapa. It was the aim to date these Karaka, in the suspicion that the groves were even aged and had been planted by the Maori. However, due to the unusual wood anatomy of the Karaka (apparent rings formed by alternating bands of fibres and parenchyma), annual rings were difficult to identify. The fact that a normal ring count could not answer the apparently simple archaeological question about the age of a tree, indicated that success would be unlikely in the more sophisticated application of tree ring analysis such as dendrochronology. Therefore, in order to ensure success in dendrochronology, the problem was approached by searching for a tree species of clearly defined anatomy in sites where ecology would be inducive to such a study.