Fire Scar Dates from Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming

Abstract

In the fall of 1982 the Modern Studies section of the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research agreed to analyze increment cores and cross sections of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) from Devils Tower National Monument for the purpose of providing a tree-ring chronology and a chronology of fire occurrence in Devils Tower. Three subsites were chosen and sampled in November, 1982 by Richard Guilmette of Devils Tower National Monument. A cross section was taken from one fire-scarred tree on each subsite, and increment cores were taken from ten trees on each subsite. Increment cores were collected from four additional trees on subsite DSF (vicinity of Tree 11) in January, 1983, in an attempt to strengthen the record of ring-width growth in the early 1600's. As a result of our analyses of the materials we conclude that dendrochronological dating of ponderosa pine in Devils Tower is possible, and that it can provide accurate and unique information on the nature of fire occurrence in Devils Tower.