TREE rings could enable scientists to pinpoint ancient events to an exact year, an Oxford researcher has discovered.

Oxford University archaeologist Michael Dee has developed a new technique to pinpoint bursts of sun activity in specific years in the growth rings.

The spacing between the annual rings which have extra high levels of radiocarbon molecules from solar activity can help scientists pinpoint events to exact years.

Dr Dee and his co-author on the study Benjamin Pope dubbed their new science astro-chronometry.

They published their findings in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society.