Trunk- and branch- data derived radial increments of Pinus brutia Ten., Cupressus sempervirens L., and Quercus pubescens Willd. subsp. pubescens from Crete for dendro- and anthraco-typological analysis

Abstract :

This dataset provides tree-ring width series for three key Mediterranean tree species that were commonly used in Aegean Bronze Age architecture: Pinus brutia Ten. (Turkish pine), Cupressus sempervirens L. (Mediterranean cypress), and Quercus pubescens Willd. subsp. pubescens (Downy oak). The dataset, which was collected from well-characterised forest stands in eastern Crete, includes measurements from both trunk and branch slices.
A subset of branch samples was experimentally carbonised to quantify radial shrinkage, a critical correction factor for analysing archaeological charcoal. Together, these data offer the first species-specific anatomical references for distinguishing trunk- and branch-derived wood on the basis of tree-ring width. The dataset supports applications in dendrochronology, anthracology, and wood-use reconstruction, including the identification of selective logging or fuel-management practices.
It also includes R scripts for applying a generalised linear model to identify the anatomical origin of archaeological wood remains. Chronologies span up to 155 years for cypress, 130 years for pine, and 55 years for oak. While the pine and oak trunk chronologies have provided reliable crossdating, the cypress chronologies and branch datasets are more suitable for anthraco-typological analysis, i.e. for differentiating branch and trunk wood based on anatomical and growth-ring features. Nevertheless, correcting the cypress series on the basis of a robust chronology will provide an insightful growth ring chronology for Crete.

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