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
14 - Quality Control of Groningen 14C Results from Tel Reḥov: Repeatability and intercomparison of Proportional Gas Counting and AMS
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
Stratified radiocarbon dates provide a scientific chronological framework independent of cultural assessments. In both Groningen 14C labs (conventional and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry [AMS]), a total of 64 radiocarbon dates were measured from Tel Reḥov, derived from 21 Iron Age loci. This is the largest Iron Age series available at present for any site in the Near East. We present, evaluate, and discuss in this article our methodology in terms of quality assurance, reliability and reproducibility.
Introduction
Radiocarbon dating plays a key role in (pre)historic research, because it provides a scientific yardstick (quite often the only objective) for the measurement of time. This yardstick is independent of cultural deliberations and enables chronological comparisons, for example, of different areas at an excavation site, or between sites and regions. This is essential for proper interpretation of archaeological layers and association with other data (van der Plicht and Bruins 2001).
Our 14C Iron Age chronology established for Tel Reḥov, Israel, unambiguously favors a ‘high chronology’ (Bruins, van der Plicht, and Mazar 2003a, 2003b). However, our findings are contested by Finkelstein and Piasetzky (2003; Chapter 16, this volume). It is of crucial importance to be aware of perceived or real quality problems of dating results. The present Iron Age chronology discussion takes place at the limits of resolution of the 14C method, as issues need to be resolved with a temporal resolution well within a century. Here even small errors may have important consequences.
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- The Bible and Radiocarbon DatingArchaeology, Text and Science, pp. 256 - 270Publisher: Acumen PublishingPrint publication year: 2005