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• Using modern tree-ring analysis methods, wood samples from the Russian settlements in south Svalbard were successfully dated to the 18th century. • The results of dating do not contradict the data of radiocarbon and archaeological analysis. • Comparison with more than 200 chronologies from the mainland indicated the possible use of wood from the areas of White and Kara Sea basins as a building material for the Russian Pomor settlements on Svalbard. Results of the tree-ring dating of samples from the three Russian settlements of the 18th century (Bjornbeinflyene, Palffyodden, and Schonningholmane) at Svalbard are presented. The present study is a development of a previous work (Chochorowski and Krapiec, 2017). These stations were discovered during excavations conducted by the Polish archaeological expedition of Jagiellonian University in the Sorkappland and Hornsund fjord regions of the Svalbard Archipelago. In total, 5 non-dated samples of the previous work were reanalyzed for these sites: Bjornbeinflyene (2 samples), Palffyodden (1 sample), Schonningholmane (1 sample) and relics from the landing site on the Torrflya coast (1 sample). All samples from these settlements are constructional elements of dwellings, appearing to be prefabricates brought from the continent, and only one of them is a driftwood timber. These floating chronologies were cross-dated against more than 200 master tree-ring chronologies from the Arctic coast, including as well our own data. Cross-dating was performed by CORINA software which includes t -values calculated with different detrending options. As a result, it was possible to successfully date and determine the place of origin of these samples. Results obtained do not contradict the data of radiocarbon and archaeological dating and indicate the possible use of wood from the territories of the White and Kara Sea basins as a building material for the Russian Pomor settlements in Svalbard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sun's role in climate variability is now a subject of debates, especially in the context of understanding contribution of solar forcing to modern global warming. Besides, there are some evidences of the approaching new Grand Solar Minimum with Little Ice Age climatic conditions. This expectation is based on the occurrence of the extended solar minimum of 2006–2009. To investigate the possible Sun-climate connection the regional tree-ring chronology covering the period from 1445 to 2005 was analyzed. A total of 36 timber cores of pine Pinus sylvestris L. were sampled near the northern tree-line at Loparskaya station (68.6 N, 33.3 E), including the oldest living pine with more than 560 years of age. The data were processed using modern methods adopted in dendrochronology (cross-dating and standardization) with the help of COFECHA and ARSTAN programs. The analysis revealed significant cooling events, coinciding with the Spoerer (1400–1540), Maunder (1645–1715), Dalton (1790–1830), and Gleissberg (1880–1910) Grand Solar Minima. The application of MTM-spectrum and wavelet decomposition analysis identified the existence of the main cycles of solar activity (5.4, 11.7 and 22 years) in tree-ring width variations. As possible extraterrestrial forcings of climate change we consider here variations in solar irradiance and cosmic ray intensity modulated by the interplanetary magnetic field. As solar and cosmic ray activity indicators we used the annual sunspot number, geomagnetic aa index and Be^10 cosmogenic isotope records. To examine the relationship in time-frequency scale between tree-ring growth and solar activity, the cross wavelet transform and wavelet coherence analysis were applied to the time series. The wavelet coherence analysis identified that the 11 yr and 22 yr periodicities were clearly manifested in the all solar-tree rings connections during and around the Grand Minima of solar activity including the Maunder minimum, when, as is known, sunspots were practically absent. These results confirm the existence of solar activity effect on climate and tree growth above the Arctic Circle and are important for understanding the modern climatic processes. • We analyzed tree-ring chronology (1445–2005) from Peninsula, Northwestern Russia. • In polar tree-ring data, significant periodicities associated with solar cycles (5.4, 11.7 and 22 years) were found. • Polar tree growth response on solar impact is more pronounced during and around the Grand Minima of solar activity. • Cycles of 11- and 22 yr were persisted in tree ring-cosmic rayconnections even during the Maunder minimum when sunspots were practically absent. • Connection between tree rings and sunspots was higher during other Grand Minima (the Dalton and Gleissberg) and just after the Maunder minimum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]