Extension of the Holocene Dendrochronology by the Preboreal Pine Series, 8800 to 10,100 BP

Abstract

Holocene tree-ring chronologies have been established for south-central Europe covering the past 11,000 years. The Hohenheim absolute oak chronology extends to 4089 BC. The 14C-calibrated mid-Holocene floating oak master covers a 3181-year period from ca 4045 to 7225 BC. The earliest well-replicated floating oak master (estimated calendar age 7215 to 7825 BC) extends the European oak dendrochronology back to Boreal times. Further extension of the Holocene dendrochronology has been achieved by subfossil oak and pine trees from the Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers. A 774-year floating series of Preboreal pine has been established. 14C ages range (from younger to older end) from 9200 to 9800 BP. Within this series a major atmospheric 14C variation is indicated, resulting in nearly constant 14C ages (9600 BP) over a period of 370 tree-rings. The European oak and pine tree-ring chronologies cover without major gaps the entire Holocene epoch. Based on the length of the dendro-records, an approximate solar year age of 11,280 years is calculate for the Holocene/Pleistocene boundary. The Preboreal pine forests along the rivers were replaced by mixed oak forests between 9200 and 8800 BP. By linking the earliest oak masters and the Preboreal pine series, the European dendrochronology can be extended up to the end of Late Glacial times.