Award Abstract # 9805413
Southwestern Archaeological Tree-Ring Dating

NSF Org: BCS
Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences
Recipient: UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
Initial Amendment Date: May 26, 1998
Latest Amendment Date: May 5, 2000
Award Number: 9805413
Award Instrument: Continuing Grant
Program Manager: John Yellen
jyellen@nsf.gov
 (703)292-8759
BCS
 Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences
SBE
 Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences
Start Date: August 1, 1998
End Date: July 31, 2001 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $239,069.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $239,069.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 1998 = $77,750.00
FY 1999 = $79,674.00

FY 2000 = $81,645.00
History of Investigator:
  • Jeffrey Dean (Principal Investigator)
    jdean@ltrr.arizona.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: University of Arizona
845 N PARK AVE RM 538
TUCSON
AZ  US  85721
(520)626-6000
Sponsor Congressional District: 07
Primary Place of Performance: University of Arizona
845 N PARK AVE RM 538
TUCSON
AZ  US  85721
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
07
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): ED44Y3W6P7B9
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): ARCHAEOMETRY
Primary Program Source: app-0100 
app-0198 

app-0199 
Program Reference Code(s): 0000, OTHR
Program Element Code(s): 139300
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.075

ABSTRACT

The National Science Foundation will continue its long term support of the University of Arizona Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research. This grant allows the laboratory to hire a full-time dendrochronologist to analyze archaeological samples and also provides support for student assistants. The technique of tree-ring dating was pioneered at the University of Arizona. Because the rate of treegrowth is determined by environmental conditions, yearly growth rings in a tree vary in form and thickness. It is possible to build up a tree ring chronology by cross matching trees from the present to well back in the prehistoric past and then to use this `master record` to date small wood samples collected from archaeological and other situations. For archaeologists in the Southwestern United States, this technique has been a boon because it allows materials to be dated within one year. This far exceeds the accuracy of radiocarbon dating. Because it has not been adequately supported and because many archaeologists lack the funds to pay for its services, the Arizona laboratory has not been able on its own to keep pace with archaeological requests for sample dating. This grant will help to remedy that situation. In particular, it will benefit young scientists and those not associated with more wealthy main line research institutions.

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