dendrochronology

They will use dendrochronology, also known as tree ring dating, where the rings in the wood are counted to establish the age of a tree.

That practice has spawned an entire subfield of scientific inquiry known as dendrochronology.

Luckily for dendrochronology, spikes in cosmic radiation generate spikes in atmospheric levels of carbon-14, the isotope whose slow decay is the clock that anchors radiocarbon dating.

Fortunately, the field of dendrochronology can come to the rescue.

The tree-ring aging confirmed the historical record, said Mr. Dyer, who said he hopes dendrochronology will continue to offer insights into the identities of other shipwrecks.