Wood has a complex anatomy. It's tissue is highly variable, a result of 350 million years of tree evolution, and this in turn gives the material great versatility. The specific properties of each type of wood allow it to be used in many different fields. It is the anatomy of wood which forms the basis of all dendroarchaeological research. It is essential to know the structure of wood not only in order to identify the type and species, but also to understand the potential technological properties of each species as well as their reactions to different environmental influences. Anatomical analyses of wood can contribute a great deal to questions about archaeology, history, the environment and ecology.

A definite identification of type and species is possible through microscopic examination of the different kinds of cells, their association to each other, their size, quantity and distribution. We differentiate, for example, between resin duct, parenchyma, ray, pits, fiber and tracheid, just to name a view. These features are further identified by their function: whether they are responsible for taking care of storage, transportation, distribution, growth, or stability. By using a microscope of between 40 to 400 times magnification, it is possible to examine the specific features on a radial, tangential, and cross-sectional face.