The development of methodological principles and specific set of research methods is an important factor in the development of such a scientific knowledge branch as historical chronology. The article is devoted to identifying and analyzing the basic and special methods of historical and chronological studies used by the authors in the study of chronicles (on the materials of the Novgorod chronicles). The dates fixed in the Novgorod chronicles may be the basis for the reconstruction of time counting systems used in Veliky Novgorod. It is concluded that the use of historical and chronological methodology makes it possible to obtain sufficiently complete knowledge of ancient Russia time counting systems and rules of their application; it will help historians solve the question of the reliability of chronological information of the sources, and to some extent the reliability of the sources. Furthermore, it will facilitate more precise dating of historical events and in some cases the attribution of the source text or identifying preferences of the compiler in the use of a certain time counting system. This methodology allows revealing hitherto little explored potential of the Novgorod chronicles as historical sources for the reconstruction of time counting systems of the past.