Archaeology today can no longer gain knowledge about social, cultural and economic processes of past societies without scientific absolute-chronological methods and their wide application. The large number of dates available today require appropriate tools to manage them and make them accessible. Based on that, data modelling can be used as a method to draw conclusions from a variety of individually information-weak data. Both are decisive, but not yet sufficiently implemented prerequisites to reach an understanding of the temporal phenomena and dynamics in past societies. However, the basis of any empirically based modelling is the availability of data: Currently, all scientific disciplines face a revolution in the way data is disseminated and used. This novel, cross-disciplinary circulation and utilisation makes it possible to deal with completely new scientific questions and makes archaeological data relevant in thoroughly new contexts. An important source of such information is absolute chronological data. The two most important absolute-chronological methods are dendrochronology (tree-rings) and radiocarbon dating (14C method). Without repositories, most comprehensive analyses are no longer feasible. To date, there is no overarching database that continuously compiles both, 14C and dendrochronological data and makes them accessible in a long-term perspective.
XRONOS aim to establish such an open access database. Our primary goal is to collect 14C and dendrochronological data for Switzerland and neighbouring countries as extensively and comprehensively as possible. The project is designed to be extended beyond the spatial focus as soon as possible.
You can access the database at https://xronos.ch. More about the project and current news can be found on the project blog: https://blog.xronos.ch.
