Pile-Dwellings at Ljubljansko Barje, Slovenia: 25 Years of Dendrochronology

Research on prehistoric pile-dwellings in Ljubljansko Barje, Slovenia, has revealed that some of the earliest settlements in the region date back to around 4600 BC. Over a span of 25 years, dendrochronology was employed to analyze nearly 8800 waterlogged wood samples from 16 sites, establishing precise tree-ring chronologies for oak and ash. These chronologies, combined with radiocarbon dating and wiggle-matching techniques, provided accurate timelines for the settlements' existence. Notably, the oak chronology BAR-3330 (3771–3330 BC) helped date eight sites, while others like SG-VO and ZA-QUSP1 marked significant periods, including the end of the Copper Age. The study also demonstrated the potential for teleconnecting Slovenian oak chronologies with those from other regions, offering a broader context for understanding prehistoric human activity in Europe.

Velušček, A., & Čufar, K. (2024). Pile-Dwellings at Ljubljansko Barje, Slovenia: 25 Years of Dendrochronology. Prehistoric Wetland Sites of Southern Europe, 221–231. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52780-7_13