17 - High or Low: Megiddo and Reḥov

Summary

Abstract

This chapter challenges the notion that Tel Reḥov can serve as the principal anchor for Iron Age chronology. It summarizes the main shortcomings in the analysis of the second series of ¹⁴C determinations from Tel Reḥov and points to difficulties in the interpretation of the stratigraphy of the site. The chapter compares the stratigraphy of Megiddo and Tel Reḥov and shows that, in fact, the Tel Reḥov finds support the most important premise of the Low Chronology system—the dating of the ashlar palaces at Megiddo to the first half of the 9th century BCE.

Introduction

In recent years, Amihai Mazar has suggested making Tel Reḥov a principal anchor in the debate on the dating of the Iron Age strata in the Levant (Bruins, van der Plicht and Mazar 2003a; Coldstream and Mazar 2003; Mazar 1999a: 40-42; 2004; Mazar and Carmi 2001). In my opinion this cannot be the case. In what follows I wish to deal with the new data provided by Tel Reḥov and elaborate on the role of Megiddo in this discussion. Two facts call for a close look at Tel Reḥov and its stratigraphy: (1) An inter-laboratory test shows that the Weizmann and Groningen laboratories produce similar results (Sharon et al. [Chapter 6, this volume]); (2) The second Tel Reḥov series (Bruins, van der Plicht and Mazar 2003a) clearly diverts from the radiocarbon results provided by many other Iron I and early Iron II sites (Sharon et al. [Chapter 6, this volume]).