Exploring the medieval climate and its impact on building activity in the Caucasus through tree-ring analysis

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Lea Schneider
• Subject Area: Physical Geography
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 571456565

The proposed research aims to deepen our understanding of the interplay between climate variability and societal development in the Caucasus over the past millennium. The central objective is the development of a high-resolution, millennial-long tree-ring chronology from high-elevation environments in the Caucasus mountain range. This endeavor seeks to fill a crucial gap in the millennial-long tree-ring network of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly addressing uncertainties regarding the spatial extent and the magnitude of the Medieval Climate Anomaly (800–1300 CE) in the Caucasus region. With temperature-sensitive tree-ring data from both medieval, historical structures and living trees, the project will establish a precise timeline of climate change. This reconstruction, expected to capture annual temperature variations, will serve as a new baseline for a vast array of studies, ranging from archaeological and historical to paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic research. A secondary aim is to link past climatic changes with periods of increased or decreased building activity, seen as a proxy for societal well-being. Through dendrochronological methods, we will determine the felling dates of timbers used in medieval constructions within the region, particularly focusing on the high-elevation community of Ushguli in Upper Svaneti. These felling dates will be analyzed to understand patterns of building activity in relation to climatic conditions, revealing potential societal vulnerabilities to climate change throughout history. The unique setting of Ushguli, one of Europe's highest inhabited villages, offers exceptional research opportunities. Its extraordinary abundance of medieval structures, most likely built with local timber, allows for a detailed dendrochronological study extending back to the 10th century. Situated near the upper treeline, Ushguli provides historic wood, that grew in harsh environmental conditions and which is particularly well suited for climate reconstructions. In addition to the primary scientific objectives, the project intends to enhance international collaboration with partners in Georgia, facilitating the exchange of knowledge through joint workshops, fieldwork, and student supervisions. The results will be disseminated through publications in high-impact, interdisciplinary journals and presentations at scientific conferences, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between climate and human societies and advancing the field of dendrochronology in the Caucasus region.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Belgium
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Jan van den Bulcke