14 - Quality Control of Groningen ¹⁴C Results from Tel Reḥov: Repeatability and intercomparison of Proportional Gas Counting and AMS

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.