Radiocarbon Dating in the Southern Levant
Open accessAbstract
Radiocarbon dating provides the principal chronometric data for the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic, Epipalaeolithic, and Chalcolithic periods in the southern Levant. It is a secondary source of dating evidence for the Early Bronze age, when archaeological correlations with Syria and especially Egypt become available. For the Middle and Late Bronze age, Iron age, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods,14 C dating has only limited value because the technique is less precise than the normally available archaeologic and historic materials.
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Previous syntheses of EBA 14C dates have generally indicated slightly earlier dates than the traditional chronological schemes.
“Previous syntheses of EBA 14 C dates have generally indicated slightly earlier dates than those of the traditional chronological schemes”
From Chronology of the Early Bronze Age in the Southern Levant: New Analysis for a High Chronology (2012) · cites this paper as Weinstein 1984
The Early Bronze age section reports some radiocarbon results earlier than archaeological expectations, including an initial series from Ai that was 300–700 years too early. It treats those results as erroneous, however, and says subsequent Ai dates agreed with expectations. It does not establish that syntheses generally favored slightly earlier dates than traditional schemes (page unavailable in our copy). (LLM, conf=0.82)
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- Marks & Larson (1977): 196 Rosh Horesha: Charcoal 10,490 t 430 (8540) -- SM[1-9 R (1974) 16: 379; Feature 13: Marks b Larson (1977): 45cm 196 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033822200006731 Published online by Cambridge University Press Rosh Horesha: Charcoal 10,880 ± 280 (8930) --- SMU-10 R (1974) 16: 379; Features 15
- St/ph VI A.x-xi Burleigh (1981): 502- 503 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033822200006731 Published online by Cambridge University Press Provenience Material 14C date BP (BC) CRD-1Q date no. and Remarks Early Neolithic I Period Jericho: Site F I, Charcoal 10,250 200 (1963) S: 107;
- Jericho: Site F I, Charcoal 9230 80 (1981): 502, St/ph VIII A.xvib d13C = -25.4°/ 504; R (1982) 24: 165
- --- (1981): 502, St/ph IV A.iiib d13C = -25.4°/ 504; R (1982) 24: 166 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033822200006731 Published online by Cambridge University Press Jericho: Site F, Charcoal St/ph VIII A.xv Jericho: Site F, Charcoal St/ph IX.xx-xxia Jericho: Site F I, Charcoal St/ph VIII B.xviia Jericho: Site F I, St/ph VIII B.xviia Jericho: Site F I, St/ph VIII B.xviia Jericho: Site F I, Humic extract St/ph VIII B.xviia Jericho: Site E I, Charcoal, ash, II, V, St/Ph IV, and/or gravel viii Jericho: Site F I, Charcoal St/ph IV A.iiib Jericho: Site D I, Charcoal St/ph VI A.x-xi Netiv Hagdud: 80cm Charcoal bs 9280 ± 100 (7330) d13C = -26.0°/ 9200 ± 70 (7250) d13C = -27.1°/ 8770 ! 150 (6820) 8690 ± 150 (6740) 8895 ± 150 (6945) 7300 ± 200 (5350) 9582 ± 89 (7632) 9775 ± 110 (7825) 9655 t 84 (7705) 9790 ± 380 (7840)
- RT-502A Bar-Yosef, Gopher, & Goring-Morris (1980): 201; Bar-Yosef (1981b): 566 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033822200006731 Published online by Cambridge University Press Gro-942
- Hv-9107 Bar-Yosef (1981b): 566 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033822200006731 Published online by Cambridge University Press Refs and Remarks Hv-9108 Bar-Yosef (1981b): 566
- Goring-Morris S Gopher (1983): 159-160, n12 Goring-Morris 6 Gopher (1983): 159-160, n12 Bar-Yosef (1981b): 566 Bar-Yosef (1981b): 566; Tchernov 6 Bar-Yosef (1982): 19 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033822200006731 Published online by Cambridge University Press p055 LB IIB-Iron IA Zeuner (1956): 196;
- R (1982) 24: 279; Burleigh (1984): 762-763 Bab edh-Dhra: Powdery wood 4630 ± 90 (2680) 3545-3345 BC SI-3310A Unpub; pers commun, Tomb A 100, Ch E W E Rast 6 R T Schaub https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033822200006731 Published online by Cambridge University Press Refs and Remarks 2640-2305 BC BM-553 R (1977) 19: 152;
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- Middle Bronze Age II (formerly MBA IIB) 3154 ± 56 (1204) 3510 ± 110 (1560) 3270 ± 110 (1320) 4100 ± 150 (2150) 3220 ± 60 (1270) 1565-1375 BC P-842 R (1965) 7: 195; for archaeol context, see Pritchard (1964): 42-43, 45-47 2000-1700 BC GL-33 1710-1425 BC GL-5 2910-2530 BC GL-6 1665-1415 BC GL-30 RMCI (1967): 31; Burleigh (1981): 502, 504 Zeuner (1956): 196; Burleigh (1981): 502, 504 Zeuner (1956): 196: Burleigh (1981): 502, 504 Zeuner (1956): 196; Burleigh (1981): 502, 504 625-370 BC RT-? Linder b Ramon (1981); 2350 ± 130 (400) Sea of Athlit: Wood (silver sample poss from cover- Bronze ship's ram fir) ing of ram, cf Steffy (1983): 235, 246, n4 Tell es-Sa'idiyeh: Wood Str 2 bldg, roof beam Tell es-Sa'idiyeh: Burned Wood Str 2 bldg, beam Tell es-Sa'idiyeh: Charcoal Str 2 bldg, beam Tell es-Sa'idiyeh: Charcoal Str 2 bldg, beam Tell es-Sa'idiyeh: Charcoal Str 2 bldg, ab F1 1 Qumran: Period Charred wood Ib or II, poss (date palm) from rafters Qumran: Period Ib or II, poss from rafters Hellenistic Period 2098 ± 55 (148) 2199 ± 55 (249) 2179 ± 53 (229) 2267 ± 53 (317) 2228 ± 48 (278) 190-15 BC P-1095 R (1970) 12: 582 395-170 BC P-1096 R (1970) 12: 582 390-165 BC P-1097 R (1970) 12: 582 410-370 BC P-1098 R (1970) 12: 582 405-180 BC P-1447 R (1970) 12: 582 Late Hellenistic/Early Roman Period n 1940 ± 80 (AD 10) 1965 ± 80 (15) 40 BC-AD 85 GL-25 Zeuner (1956): 196; (1960): 27-28; RMCI (1967): 31; same sample as GL-47 160 BC-AD 70 GL-47 Zeuner (1960): 27-28; RMCI (1967): 31; cf GL-25, diff pretreatment Roman Period Masada: Roman Wood 170 BC-AD 55 TF-1002 R (1973) 15: 580 2000 ! 90 (50) rampart https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033822200006731 Published online by Cambridge University Press REFERENCES
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- Authors
- Weinstein, J. M.
- Affiliations
- Cornell University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Weinstein, James M
- Venue
- Radiocarbon
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 1984
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 297-366
- ISSN
- 0033-8222 (ISSN-L)
- 1945-5755
- OpenAlex
- W2494441987
- Cited by
- 71
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 4.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Radiocarbon (publishedVersion)
- UA Campus Repository (The University of Arizona) (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Yale University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Mississippi State University
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Archaeology and Historical Studies
- Keywords
- radiocarbon dating, Southern Levant, Middle Palaeolithic, Upper Palaeolithic, Epipaleolithic, Chalcolithic, Early Bronze Age, Late Bronze Age, Iron Age, Persian period, Hellenistic period, Roman period, Byzantine period, chronology
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