JOURNAL ARTICLE

Tree rings from ancient coffins offer clues to Earth's past: Wood from gravesites can help reconstruct historic temperatures, floods, and droughts.

  • Published In: Sciencemag.org, 2025. P. N.PAG 1 of 3

  • Database: Applied Science & Technology Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Brown, Taylor Mitchell 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on the use of coffin wood by dendrochronologists to reconstruct historical climate data and environmental conditions. Researchers, including Bao Yang from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, analyze tree rings from ancient coffins to gain insights into past humidity levels and climate variations, particularly during the Han Dynasty in China. This method provides valuable data in regions where other historical records are scarce, allowing scientists to piece together detailed chronologies that extend thousands of years into the past. Ongoing studies, such as those by Yesi Zhao, aim to understand the impact of climatic anomalies on ancient societies, highlighting the significance of coffin wood in climate research. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Sciencemag.org. 2025/10, pN.PAG
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2025
  • Accession Number:189053282
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