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Peter Ian Kuniholm

A.B. English, Brown University, 1958
A.M. English, Vanderbilt University, 1963
Ph.D. Classical Archaeology, University of Pennsylvania, 1977

Tel (Lab): 607-255-8650
Tel (Office): 607-255-9732
Email : pik3@cornell.edu

Peter Ian Kuniholm started the Aegean Dendrochronology Project as a one-man Ph.D. dissertation research project in 1973 in the basement of the Ankara Museum. Peter also founded the Cornell Dendro lab when he subsequently came to Cornell in 1976. In the three decades since, Peter created a new field: archaeological dendrochronology of the Mediterranean and Near East. His work has profoundly changed approaches and thinking in several areas and fields.

Peter began with a study of Iron Age conifers in Phrygia and the Anatolian highlands, and work since has expanded greatly into a larger, much broader research enterprise. The Lab work now involves the building of tree-ring chronologies for a number of species of trees spread over the Eastern Mediterranean from Georgia on the fringe of the Caucasus to selected parts of Italy, from the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus and the cedars of north Lebanon to trees growing in the former Yugoslavia and parts of Bulgaria. This includes all of Turkey and all of Greece including Crete.

Selected Publications

  • OZDOGAN, M., BASGELEN, N. & KUNIHOLM, P. I. (2011) The Neolithic in Turkey: New Excavations and New Research. Volume 2: The Euphrates Basin Archaeology and Art Publications.
  • OZDOGAN, M., BASGELEN, N. & KUNIHOLM, P. I. (2011) The Neolithic in Turkey: New Excavations and New Research. Volume 1: The Tigris Basin Archaeology and Art Publications.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I., NEWTON, M. W. & LIEBHART, R. F. (2011) Dendrochronology at Gordion IN: Rose, C. & Darbyshire, G. The New Chronology of Iron Age Gordion. 79-122.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (2011) Book Review: Sagalassos VI: Geo- and Bio-Archaeology at Sagalassos and in Its Territory. American Journal of Archaeology, 115.1: [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I., RAMAGE, N. & RAMAGE, A. (2010) A guide to the Classical Collections of Cornell University Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY; Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Ithaca, NY; and Archaeology and Art Publications, Richmond.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I., NEWTON, M. W. & GRIGGS, C. B. (2010) Dendrochronologische Analyse der Tatarlı Holzgrabkammer IN: Summerer, L. & Kienlin, A. Tatarlı: Rückkehr der Farben. 80-87.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I., NEWTON, M. W. & GRIGGS, C. B. (2010) Tatarlı Ahşaplarının Dendrokronolojik Analizi IN: Summerer, L. & Kienlin, A. Tatarlı: Renklerin Dönüşü. 80-87.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I., NEWTON, M. W. & GRIGGS, C. B. (2010) Dendrochronological Analysis of the Tatarlı Wooden Chamber IN: Summerer, L. & Kienlin, A. Tatarlı: The Return of Colours. 80-87.
  • ÜNLÜ, K., PEARSON, C. L., HAUCK, D. K. & KUNIHOLM, P. I. (2009) Dating volcanic eruptions with tree-ring chemistry. IEEE Potentials, 28: 36-44 [PDF].
  • ÜNLÜ, K., KUNIHOLM, P. I., HAUCK, D. K., CETINER, N. & JJ, C. (2009) Neutron activation analysis of dendrochronologically dated trees IN: Manning, S. W. & Bruce, M. J. Tree-Rings, Kings and Old World Archaeology and Environment: Papers Presented in Honor of Peter Ian Kuniholm. 119-131 [URL].
  • PEARSON, C. L., DALE, D. S., BREWER, P. W., KUNIHOLM, P. I., LIPTON, J. & MANNING, S. W. (2009) Dendrochemical analysis of a tree-ring growth anomaly associated with the Late Bronze Age eruption of Thera. Journal of Archaeological Science, 36: 1206-1214 [URL].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I., NEWTON, M. W. & GRIGGS, C. B. (2009) Dendrochronological Analysis of the Tatarlı Tomb Chamber - appendix to Summerer, L "From Tatarlı to Munich: The Recovery of a "Painted Wooden Tomb Chamber in Phrygia". IN: Delemen, I., Casabonne, O., Karagõz, Ş. & Tekin, O. The Achaemenid Impact on Local Populations and Cultures in Anatolia. 153-156. [PDF].
  • GRIGGS, C. B., KUNIHOLM, P. I., NEWTON, M. W., WATKINS, J. & MANNING, S. W. (2009) A 924-year regional oak tree-ring chronology for North Central Turkey IN: Manning, S. W. & Bruce, M. J. Tree-Rings, Kings and Old World Archaeology and Environment: Papers Presented in Honor of Peter Ian Kuniholm. 71-79 [URL].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (2008) Dendrochronology IN: Jeffreys, E. The Oxford Handbook of Byzantine Studies. 182-192 [PDF].
  • WARDLE, K. A., NEWTON, M. W. & KUNIHOLM, P. I. (2007) Troy VIIB_2 Revisited: The Date of the Transition from Bronze to Iron Age in the Northern Aegean IN: Todorova, H., Stefanovich, M. & Ivanov, G. The Struma Strymon River Valley in Prehistory: Proceedings of the International Conference Strymon Praehistoricos 27.10-1.10.2004. In the Steps of James Harvey Gaul. 481-497.
  • NEWTON, M. W. & KUNIHOLM, P. I. (2007) A revised dendrochronological date for the fortress of Rusa II at Ayanis: Rusaḫinilil Eiduru-kai IN: Sagona, A. & A, Ç. VIth International Iron Age Symposium. 195-206 [PDF].
  • MANNING, S. W. & KUNIHOLM, P. I. (2007) Absolute dating at Apliki Karamallos. IN: Kling, B. & Muhly, J. D. Joan du Plat Taylor's excavations at the Late Bronze Age mining settlement at Apliki Karamallos, Cyprus Part 1. 325-335. Paul Åströms förlag, Sävedalen.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I., WATKINS, J. & PETRUCCI, A. (2007) Aegean Dendrochronology Project: 2004-2006 Results Proceedings of the XXII. Arkeometri Sonuçlari toplantisi, Çanakkale, 29 May - 2 June 2006. 59-70 [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I., NEWTON, M. W., SWITSUR, R. & POSTGATE, N. (2007) Dating IN: Postgate, N. & Thomas, D. Excavations at Kilise Tepe 1994-98: From Bronze Age to Byazantine in western Cilicia. 619-623 [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I., NEWTON, M. W. & KROMER, B. (2007) Dendrochronology of submerged Bulgarian sites IN: Yanko-Hombach, V., Gilbert, A. & Panin, N. The Black Sea Flood Question: Changes in Coastline, Climate and Human Settlement. 483-488 [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I., NEWTON, M. W. & GRIGGS, C. B. (2007) Dendrochronological Analysis of the Tatarlı Tomb Chamber, Appendix to - Summerer, L., 'From Tatarlı to Munich: The Recovery of a Painted Wooden Tomb Chamber in Phrygia' IN: Delemen, İ. Colloquium Anatolicum: The Achaemenid Impact on Local Populations and Cultures in Anatolia. 129-156.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I., GRIGGS, C. B. & NEWTON, M. W. (2007) Evidence for Early Timber Trade in the Mediterranean IN: Belke, K., Kislinger, E., A, K. & Stasinopoulou, M. A. Byzantina Mediterranea. Festschrift für Johannes Koder zum 65. Geburtstag. 365-385 [PDF].
  • GRIGGS, C. B., DEGAETANO, A. T., KUNIHOLM, P. I. & NEWTON, M. W. (2007) A regional reconstruction of May-June precipitation in the north Aegean from oak tree-rings, AD 1089-1989. International Journal of Climatology, 27: 1075-1089 [PDF].
  • NEWTON, M. W., TALAMO, S., PULAK, C., KROMER, B. & KUNIHOLM, P. I. (2006) Die Datierung des Schiffswracks von Uluburun. IN: Yalçın, Ü., Pulak, C. & R, S. Das Schiff von Uluburun: Welthandel vor 3000 Jahren, Katalog der Ausstellung des Deutschen Bergbau Museums Bochum vom 15. Juli bis 16. Juli 2006, Deutsches Bergbau Museum, Bochum, 2005. 115-116. Deutschen Bergbau Museums.
  • GRIGGS, C. B., KUNIHOLM, P. I., NEWTON, M. W. & DEGAETANO, A. T. (2006) Regional reconstruction of precipitation in the north Aegean and northwestern Turkey from an oak tree-ring chronology, AD 1089-1989. Tüba-AR, 9: 141-146 [PDF].
  • NEWTON, M. W., WARDLE, K. A. & KUNIHOLM, P. I. (2005) Dendrochronology and Radiocarbon Determinations from Assiros and the Beginning of the Greek Iron Age ΤΟ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΕΡΓΟ ΣΤΗ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΗ ΘΡΑΚΗ 17, 2003, a.k.a., the AETΘ Conference, or Conference of Archaeological Research in Macedonia & Thrace, held in Thessaloniki, 2003. 173-190 [PDF].
  • MANNING, S. W., KROMER, B., TALAMO, S., FRIEDRICH, M., KUNIHOLM PETER IAN & NEWTON, M. W. (2005) Radiocarbon Calibration in the East Mediterranean Region. IN: Levy, T. E. & Higham, T. The Bible and Radiocarbon Dating Archaeology, Text and Science. Equinox, London.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I., NEWTON, M. W., GRIGGS, C. B. & SULLIVAN, P. J. (2005) Dendrochronological Dating in Anatolia: the Second Millennium B.C.: Significance for Early Metallurgy Deutsches Bergbau-Museum [PDF].
  • NEWTON, M. W. & KUNIHOLM, P. I. (2004) A Dendrochronological Framework for the Assyrian Colony Period in Asia Minor. Türkiye Bilimler Akademisi Arkeoloji Dergisi, 7: 165-176 [PDF].
  • MANNING, S. W., KROMER, B., KUNIHOLM, P. I. & NEWTON, M. W. (2003) Confirmation of near-absolute dating of east Mediterranean Bronze-Iron Dendrochronology. Antiquity, 77: 295 [URL].
  • DE VRIES, K., KUNIHOLM, P. I., SAMS, G. K. & VOIGT, M. M. (2003) New dates for Iron Age Gordion. Antiquity, 77: [URL].
  • MANNING, S. W., BARBETTI, M., KROMER, B., KUNIHOLM, P. I., LEVIN, I., NEWTON, M. W. & REIMER, P. J. (2002) No systematic early bias to Mediterranean 14C ages: radiocarbon measurements from tree-ring and air samples provide tight limits to age offsets. Radiocarbon, 44: 739-754 [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (2002) Dendrochronological Investigations at Herculaneum and Pompeii. IN: Jashemski, W. F. & Meyer, F. G. The Natural History of Pompeii. 235-239. Cambridge University Press [PDF].
  • GRIGGS, C. B., KUNIHOLM, P. I. & NEWTON, M. W. (2002) Lavagnone di Brescia in the Early Bronze Age: Dendrochronological Report. IN: de Marinis, R. C. Studi sul'Abitato dell'Eta del Bronzo del Lavagnone Desenzano del Garda. 19-34.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. & NEWTON, M. W. (2001) Dendrochronological Investigations at Kaman-Kalehöyük: Dating Early Iron Age Level IId. Anatolian Archaeological Studies, 10: 125--127.
  • MANNING, S. W., WENINGER, B., SOUTH, A. K., KLING, B., KUNIHOLM, P. I., MUHLY, J. D., HADJISAVVAS, S., SEWELL, D. & CADOGAN, G. (2001) Absolute age range of the Late Cypriot IIC period on Cyprus. Antiquity, 75: 328-340 [PDF].
  • MANNING, S. W., KROMER, B., KUNIHOLM, P. I. & NEWTON, M. W. (2001) Anatolian Tree Rings and a New Chronology for the East Mediterranean Bronze-Iron Ages. Science, 294: 2532-2535 [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. & NEWTON, M. W. (2001) Dendrochronological Investigations at Ayanis: Dating the Fortress of Rusa II: Rusahinili Eduru-kai. IN: A, Ç. & Salvini, M. Ayanis I: Ten Years' Excavations at Rusahinili Eiduru-kai. CNR: Istituto per gli Studi Micenei ed Egeo-Anatolici, Rome.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (2001) Dendrochronology and Other Applications of Tree-ring Studies in Archaeology. IN: Brothwell, D. R. & Pollard, A. M. The Handbook of Archaeological Sciences. John Wiley & Sons [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (2001) Archaeological Dendrochronology. Dendrochronologia, 20: 63-68 [PDF].
  • KROMER, B., MANNING, S. W., KUNIHOLM, P. I., NEWTON, M. W., SPURK, M. & LEVIN, I. (2001) Regional 14CO2 offsets in the troposphere: magnitude, mechanisms, and consequences. Science, 294: 2529-2532 [PDF].
  • HUGHES, M. K., KUNIHOLM, P. I., EISCHEID, J., GARFIN-WOLL, G., GRIGGS, C. B. & LATINI, C. (2001) Aegean tree-ring signature years explained. Tree-Ring Research, 57: 67-73 [PDF] [URL].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (2000) Dendrochronology (Tree-Ring Dating) of Panel Paintings. IN: Taft, S. W. & Mayer, J. W. The Science of Paintings. 206-215. Springer Verlag [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (2000) Dendrochronologically Dated Ottoman Monuments. IN: Baram, U. & Carroll, L. A Historical Archaeology of the Ottoman Empire: Breaking New Ground. 93-136. Plenum Press, New York [PDF].
  • NEWTON, M. W. & KUNIHOLM, P. I. (1999) Wiggles Worth Watching--Making Radiocarbon Work: The Case of Çatal Höyük. IN: Betancourt, P. P., Karageorghis, V., Laffineur, R. & Niemaeier, W-D. Meletemata: Studies in Aegean Archaeology Presented to Malcolm H. Wiener. 527-537. Université de Liège.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I., KROMER, B., TARTER, S. L. & GRIGGS, C. B. (1998) An Early Bronze Age Settlement at Sozopol, near Burgas, Bulgaria. IN: Stefanovich, M., Todorova, H. & Hauptmann, H. James Harvey Gaul: In Memoriam. 399-409. The James Harvey Gaul Foundation, Sofia [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. & NEWTON, M. W. (1997) Çatal Höyük: A Preliminary Report. IN: Hodder, I. On the surface: Çatalhöyük 1993-1995. 345-347. BIAA.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (1997) Wood. IN: Myers, E. M. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East. 37-38. Oxford University Press [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (1997) Climatology. IN: Myers, E. M. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East. 37-38. Oxford University Press [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I., KROMER, B., MANNING, S. W., NEWTON, M. W., LATINI, C. E. & BRUCE, M. J. (1996) Anatolian tree rings and the absolute chronology of the eastern Mediterranean, 2220-718 BC. Nature, 381: 780-783 [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (1996) Long tree-ring chronologies for the Eastern Mediterranean IN: Demirci, Ş., Özer, A. M. & Summers, G. D. Archaeometry '94: The Proceedings of the 29th International Symposium on Archaeometry. 401-409 [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (1996) Long Tree-Ring Chronologies for the Eastern Mediterranean IN: Demirci, Ş., Özer, A. M. & Summers, G. D. Archaeometry '94: The Proceedings of the 29th International Symposium on Archaeometry. 401-409.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (1996) The Prehistoric Aegean: Dendrochronological Progress as of 1995. Acta Archaeologica, 67: 327-335 [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (1995) Dendrochronology. American Journal of Archaeology, 99: 79-142 [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (1994) Ağac Halkalarından Eskiyi Okumak... Dendrokronoloji. Bilim ve Teknik, 26-31 [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I., TARTER, S. L. & GRIGGS, C. B. (1993) Dendrochronological Report. IN: Summers, G. Tille Höyük 4. 179-189. Oxbow [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (1993) A Date-list for Bronze Age and Iron Age monuments based on combined dendrochronological and radiocarbon evidence. Aspects of Art and Iconography: Anatolia and its Neighbors. Studies in honor of Nimet Özgüç. 371-373. Türk Tarih Kurumu Basimevi [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I., TARTER, S. L., NEWTON, M. W. & GRIGGS, C. B. (1992) Dendrochronological Investigations at Porsuk/Ulukışla, Turkey 1987-1989. Syria, 69: 379-389 [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. & STRIKER, C. L. (1990) Dendrochronology and the Architectural History of the Church of the Holy Apostles in Thessaloniki. Architectura: Zeitschrift für Geschichte der Architektur, 1-26 [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (1990) Overview and Assessment of the Evidence for the Date of the Eruption of Thera. IN: Hardy, D. A. & Renfrew, A. C. Thera and the Aegean World III. 13-18. The Thera Foundation [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (1990) The archaeological record: evidence and non-evidence for climatic change. IN: Runcorn, S. K. & Pecker, J-C. The Earth's Climate and Variability of the Sun Over Recent Millennia. 645-655. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London A [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. & NEWTON, M. W. (1989) A 677 Year Long Tree-Ring Chronology for the Middle Bronze Age. Anatolia and the Ancient Near East: Studies in Honor of Tahsin Özgüç. 279-293. Türk Tarih Kurumu Basimevi, Ankara [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. & STRIKER, C. L. (1987) Dendrochronological Investigations in the Aegean and Neighboring Regions, 1983-1986. Journal of Field Archaeology, 14: 385-398 [PDF].
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (1987) Demircihüyük - Dendrochronological Analysis. IN: Korfmann, M. Demircihüyük II. 1-4. von Zabern.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. & STRIKER, C. L. (1985) Dendrochronological Investigations at St. Sophia in Istanbul: A Preliminary Report. Annual of Ayasofya Museum, 10: 41-45.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (1985) Dendrochronological Analysis of the Elaia Tumulus Kline. Istanbuler Mitteilungen, 35: 168-182.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. & STRIKER, C. L. (1983) Dendrochronological Investigations in the Aegean and Neighboring Regions, 1977-1982. Journal of Field Archaeology, 10: 411-420.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (1982) The Fishing Gear. IN: Bass, G. F. Yassı Ada I: A Seventh-Century Byzantine Shipwreck. 291-310. Texas A & M University Press.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (1982) Dendrochronological Analysis of the Keel. IN: Bass, G. F. Yassı Ada I: A Seventh-Century Byzantine Shipwreck. Appendix D. Texas A & M University Press.
  • KUNIHOLM, P. I. (1982) Δενδροχρονολογηση: Μια Τεχνικη Χρησιμη Στη Μελετη Του Οικολ (Dendrochronology: a useful technique for studying the ecology of the past). Dasika Chronika, 25: 85-94 [PDF].
Peter Ian Kuniholm (Director Emeritus)

Peter Ian Kuniholm (Director Emeritus)