16 - ¹⁴C Results from Megiddo, Tel Dor, Tel Reḥov and Tel Hadar: Where do they lead us?

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.