Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- I INTRODUCTION TO THE PROBLEMS
- II SOME METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES
- III AROUND THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN IN THE IRON AGE
- IV JORDAN IN THE IRON AGE
- V ISRAEL IN THE IRON AGE
- 13 Ladder of Time at Tel Reḥov: Stratigraphy, archaeological context, pottery and radiocarbon dates
- 14 Quality Control of Groningen 14C Results from Tel Reḥov: Repeatability and intercomparison of Proportional Gas Counting and AMS
- 15 The Groningen Radiocarbon Series from Tel Reḥov: OxCal Bayesian computations for the Iron IB–IIA boundary and Iron IIA destruction events
- 16 14C Results from Megiddo, Tel Dor, Tel Reḥov and Tel Hadar: Where do they lead us?
- 17 High or Low: Megiddo and Reḥov
- 18 Correlation and Chronology: Samaria and Megiddo Redux
- 19 Iron-Age 14C Dates from Tel Dan: A high chronology
- 20 Iron I Chronology at Ashkelon: Preliminary results of the Leon Levy expedition
- 21 Desert Settlement through the Iron Age: Radiocarbon dates from Sinai and the Negev Highlands
- 22 Trajectories of Iron Age Settlement in North Israel and their Implications for Chronology
- VI HISTORICAL CONSIDERATIONS
- VII CONCLUSION
- Index
16 - 14C Results from Megiddo, Tel Dor, Tel Reḥov and Tel Hadar: Where do they lead us?
from V - ISRAEL IN THE IRON AGE
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- I INTRODUCTION TO THE PROBLEMS
- II SOME METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES
- III AROUND THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN IN THE IRON AGE
- IV JORDAN IN THE IRON AGE
- V ISRAEL IN THE IRON AGE
- 13 Ladder of Time at Tel Reḥov: Stratigraphy, archaeological context, pottery and radiocarbon dates
- 14 Quality Control of Groningen 14C Results from Tel Reḥov: Repeatability and intercomparison of Proportional Gas Counting and AMS
- 15 The Groningen Radiocarbon Series from Tel Reḥov: OxCal Bayesian computations for the Iron IB–IIA boundary and Iron IIA destruction events
- 16 14C Results from Megiddo, Tel Dor, Tel Reḥov and Tel Hadar: Where do they lead us?
- 17 High or Low: Megiddo and Reḥov
- 18 Correlation and Chronology: Samaria and Megiddo Redux
- 19 Iron-Age 14C Dates from Tel Dan: A high chronology
- 20 Iron I Chronology at Ashkelon: Preliminary results of the Leon Levy expedition
- 21 Desert Settlement through the Iron Age: Radiocarbon dates from Sinai and the Negev Highlands
- 22 Trajectories of Iron Age Settlement in North Israel and their Implications for Chronology
- VI HISTORICAL CONSIDERATIONS
- VII CONCLUSION
- Index
Summary
Abstract
All available data that correspond to 14C measurements of short-lived samples from two destruction horizons known from several key sites in Northern Israel (Megiddo, Tel Dor, Tel Reḥov and Tel Hadar) have been used to judge which of the two Iron Age chronological hypotheses is correct. Unlike traditional methods, we have chosen not to calibrate each datum but rather to translate the two hypotheses into uncalibrated dates and compare them to the measurements. This method reduces the uncertainties and allows using normal distribution to evaluate the deviation between each datum and the prediction by each hypothesis. The procedure we have used shows unambiguously better agreement of the data with the ‘Low Chronology’ system. It allows us to determine that the ‘High Chronology’ system has little probability of being correct.
Introduction
The problem of absolute dating of the archeological finds from the Iron Age strata of the southern Levant has been fiercely debated in recent years (e.g. Ben-Tor 2000; Finkelstein 1996, 2001; Knauf 2000; Mazar 1997). A precise absolute dating (with a resolving power better than 50 years) may have far-reaching implications not only on the field of archaeology, but also on other, related disciplines such as biblical history and biblical exegesis. In this work we wish to concentrate on the 14C data and their analysis. Part of this study was published elsewhere (Finkelstein and Piasetzky 2003). In the short period of time that has passed since the publication of that article, the available data base has more than doubled.
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- The Bible and Radiocarbon DatingArchaeology, Text and Science, pp. 294 - 301Publisher: Acumen PublishingPrint publication year: 2005