Tree rings and people: new applications for dendrochronological methods

Up to the recent past, dendrochronological techniques were limited to the analysis and interpretation of tree-ring sequences or other natural phenomena subjected to rhythmic, annual increment (varves etc.). By means of the so-called page time series analysis (PTSA) we could show for the first time that the application of conventional dendrochronological methods may be considerably expanded. An analysis of the publishing activity of four dendrochronologists allowed us to reconstruct their life history and, thus, open up sociology as a completely new field to tree-ring researchers. We suggest to name peoplechronology this unexplored science and to postulate it may become a welcome alternative for dendrochronologists in times of dendroeconomic hardship.