CentralNotice From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigation Jump to search Method of dating based on the analysis of patterns of tree rings Drill for dendrochronology sampling and growth ring counting The growth rings of a tree at Bristol Zoo , England . Each ring represents one year; the outside rings, near the bark, are the youngest Dendrochronology (or tree-ring dating ) is the scientific method of dating tree rings (also called growth rings) to the exact year they were formed. As well as dating them, this can give data for dendroclimatology , the study of climate and atmospheric conditions during different periods in history from wood. Dendrochronology derives from Ancient Greek dendron ( δένδρον ), meaning "tree", khronos ( χρόνος ), meaning "time", and -logia ( -λογία ), "the study of". [1] Dendrochronology is useful for determining the precise ag...