Show charcoal of ancient trees may date culture of indians of the Midd lewest indian culture of the Midd lewest and of illinois which university of chicago anthropologists have shown to have been in existence at least 2000 years ago may be dated definitely to the exact year by study of charcoal from old campfires camp fires and burned village sites dr fay cooper cole chairman of the department of anthropology said in in an announcing noun cing a novel research project the usefulness of the tree ring method is now being determined by dr florence hawley recently appointed research associate in in anthropology doctor hawley who has proved tree ring dating method is workable by using charcoal found in mounds and campsites this week began field activities in wisconsin doctor hawleys harleys Haw leys demonstration that charcoal remains of trees is as useful for dating purposes as are timbers and stumps opened up the possibility of dating the middlemost ern cultures in the southwest the dry climate has preserved timbers in buildings for centuries but the moister climates of this section has rotted all U early timber and tree stumps except those which have been burned into charcoal doctor hawley is gathering specimens of tree cuttings and borings bolings from standing trees and stumps these specimens with the charcoal found by university expeditions will be used to compile a ima master ster chart of the region |