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Also, if you didn’t count the rings then you don’t know how old the tree is. I don’t care how old your uncle thinks it is. You have no idea how often this comes up and how many completely implausible tree ages are just posted as fact in the internet.

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fossilesque@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
It’s how we calibrate radiocarbon dates. :) I make the computer do it though.

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lugal@sopuli.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
It’s not like this is the only way to estimate the age of a tree

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- LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
  It’s the main accurate way, at least for living trees.
  
  There are other methods but none really have a proven track record of accuracy the way tree-ring based methods do.
  
  For well documented trees that coexisted with literate cultures, historical records can be used, though these records can sometimes be wrong. Some trees have ages from oral tradition too but these are difficult to verify.
  
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  - lugal@sopuli.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
    
    It’s the main accurate way, at least for living trees.
    
    Not if they are supposed to still be alive afterwards
    
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    LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
    They usually use a coring device. It doesn’t do significant damage to the tree.
    
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