Dendrochronology

{{crenav}}[[Image:Treering.jpg|thumb|right|Clearly defined tree rings.]]
'''Dendrochronology''' is the [[Science|scientific]] method of dating the age of trees by the number of rings that they have grown. [[Young Earth creationism|Young Earth creationists]] are not fans of it, because dendrochronology often finds that certain trees are older than the young [[Earth]] is supposed to be.

==Methodology==
Trees continually grow outward during their lifespan by surrounding the central, live section with dead cells, or bark. However, trees grow faster in summer and slower in winter, causing 'tree rings' of different growth rates to form. A tree's age can be dated to within one year by "counting" the number of these rings that a tree possesses.<ref>http://www.livescience.com/32443-why-are-tree-rings-lighter-or-darker.html</ref>

However, just counting the rings may lead to an inaccurate result, because of seasonal variations in ring growth and malformations. Instead, dendrochronologists determine the qualities of each ring and determine whether other local trees possess the same qualities in the same ring in a process called "skeleton plotting".<ref>[http://ltrr.arizona.edu/about/treerings "About Tree Rings".]</ref><ref>[http://web.utk.edu/~grissino/principles.htm "Principles of Dendrochronology".]</ref> If the tree rings between different trees formed in a similar way, then it's likely that those trees have undergone the same variation at the same time. In addition to allowing more certain proof of a tree's age, it allows dendrochronologists to link together a part of the life of one tree to part of the life of another tree and make an effective "chain" of tree lives.

==Creationism and dendrochronology==
Young Earth [[Creationism|creationists]] often doubt other forms of dating, such as [[radiometric dating]], that invalidate their worldview of a [[Young Earth creationism|6,000-year-old Earth]], often because those dating methods are harder to understand, more prone to potential error, and science-y. Dendrochronology, on the other hand, can be done by anyone, and feels less science-y. If a tree is proven to be older than about 4,350 years, then it is impossible for that tree to have survived the [[global flood]], which in turn proves [[biblical literalism]] and [[creationism]] false. (Until creationists say that [[Goddidit|God protected this singular tree]] for 
no apparent reason
 [[Problem_of_evil#Mysterious_ways_theodicy|reasons we cannot comprehend]], which is a [[Bullshit|perfectly acceptable response]] which also proves that creationism is [[religion]], not a science.)

Many tree records have been constructed that extend beyond 4,350 years old.<ref>http://ltrr.arizona.edu/aegean</ref> The oldest unbroken string of tree ring records go back 11,750 years,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CG/CG010.html|title=Claim CG010|first1=Mark|last1=Isaak|date=2004|publisher=TalkOrigins|accessdate=2015-01-26}}</ref> while the oldest living tree is 5063 years old.<ref name= RMTRR>[http://www.rmtrr.org/oldlist.htm Rocky Mountain Tree-Ring Research]</ref> Both of these dates contradict young Earth creationism.

==Trees contradicting the global flood==

===Trees that are over 4,350 years old, dated by dendrochronology===

====''Currently unnamed''====
''Currently unnamed'' is {{Age|-3050|8|31}} years old ({{#expr:{{Age|-3050|8|31}}-4350}} too many),<!--5062 as of 08-2012.--><ref name="RMTRR"/><ref>http://www.livescience.com/29152-oldest-tree-in-world.html</ref> and is the oldest known living tree dated by dendrochronology.

====Prometheus====
[[File:Prometheus Wheeler.jpg|thumb|right|165px|The grove of bristlecone pines in which Prometheus grew]]
{{wpl|Prometheus (tree)|Prometheus}} is {{Age|-2880|1|1}} years old ({{#expr:{{Age|-2880|1|1}}-4350}} too many).<!--4844 as of 1965.--><ref name="RMTRR"/> Prometheus was cut down in 1964, and its age is adjusted as if it had continued living.

====Methuselah====
{{wpl|Methuselah (tree)|Methuselah}} is {{Age|-2832|8|5}} years old ({{#expr:{{Age|-2832|8|5}}-4350}} too many).<!--4789 as of 05-08-1957--><ref name="RMTRR"/><ref>http://www.conifers.org/pi/Pinus_longaeva.php</ref>

===Trees that may be over 4,350 years old, dated otherwise===

====King Clone====
[[File:King Clone.jpg|thumb|right|165px|The King Clone creosote bush ring]]
{{wpl|King Clone}}, a creosote bush ring, is approximately 11,700 years old.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/jotr/naturescience/creosote.htm "Creosote Bush".]</ref><ref>[http://www.oldearth.org/argument/E611_creation_science.htm "E611: The King Clone Creosote Bush (11,700 years old) is only about 7,500 years old."]</ref><ref>[http://azdailysun.com/news/local/from-animals-to-plants-creosote-bush-may-be-oldest-living/article_6e2a9959-e486-5d07-a45c-77e3e1caa141.html "From animals to plants: Creosote bush may be oldest living organism on Earth."]</ref><ref>http://www.lucernevalley.net/creosote/index.htm</ref> King Clone was dated by Frank Vasek and Leonel Sternberg using two methods: First, the number of rings in the plant and by calculating the annual annual growth, and second by radiocarbon dating the wood of the centermost portion of the plant.

====Old Tjikko====
{{wpl|Old Tjikko}} is approximately 9,550 years old.<ref>[http://info.adm.umu.se/NYHETER/PressmeddelandeEng.aspx?id=3061 "World’s oldest living tree discovered in Sweden".]</ref><ref>http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080414-oldest-tree_2.html</ref> Old Tjikko was dated using [[Carbon dating|carbon-14 dating]], which certainly shows us that Old Tjikko is too old for young earth creationism but is inaccurate to the year.

====Llangernyw Yew====
The {{wpl|Llangernyw Yew}} is approximately 4,000-5,000 years old.<ref>[http://www.walesdirectory.co.uk/his/ch/llangernyw.htm "The Church of St Digain and The Ancient Yew Tree."]</ref><ref>http://www.hort.cornell.edu/uhi/treetour/yew.html</ref> Unfortunately, yews are notably difficult to date, and this one has weathered worse than most, which makes this weak evidence.

====Jomon Sugi====
{{wpl|Jōmon Sugi}} is 2100-7000 years old.

==See also==
*[[Carbon dating]]
*[[Evidence against a recent creation]]
*[[Radiometric dating]]

==External links==
*[http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/loggers-accidentally-cut-down-worlds-oldest-tree-in-amazon/ The Samauma tree being logged] [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/no-the-worlds-oldest-tree-has-not-been-accidentally-cut-down-by-loggers-in-the-amazon-9915272.html is a hoax].
*[http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/hovind/howgood-yea2.html#proof27 How Good Are Those Young-Earth Arguments?]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

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[[Category:Evidence against a recent creation]]
[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Archaeology]]

Categories: Evidence against a recent creation, Science, History, Archaeology