During a recent class, Professor David Cox’s biology students learned about dendrochronology, the study of dating tree rings. Professor Cox brought in tree ring sections from two historic trees from the Springfield area for students to study in order to compare their age and growth.

The first piece is from the Gudgel Oak, found on Gudgel Avenue, west of Athens, near New Salem.  The Gudgel Oak is a tree that was present prior to the founding of the United States. The tree dates back to the late 1700s.  The other ring is from an oak tree that grew near the Lincoln Vault in Springfield. Professor Cox acquired the pieces from Guy Sternberg, an arborist who maintains Starhill Forest Arboretum.  You can learn more at http://www.starhillforest.com/gudgel_oak.htm.